I quit my a government job over 7 months ago and they have continued to provide me with health insurance, I believe in error. I know the right thing is to call and tell them cancel my insurance, but I'll put myself in a difficult position without the insurance. What should I do?
2007-07-01 07:59:47 · 28 answers · asked by Matt S 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
OK, I know the right thing to do. But it is their mistake. I'm not committing fraud and I don't think they can penalize me for not reporting a mistake. It isn't really my responsibility(in a moral sense, yes, but not legal). For all I know they give insurance to everyone for 1 yr after employment.
2007-07-01 08:20:45 · update #1
I think everyone that says I'm committing fraud completely wrong!! I can't be liable for a clerical error that I had nothing to do with.
2007-07-01 08:49:31 · update #2
hell ya you should keep the insurance. government can kiss my ***. they be taking tax from us left and right on just about everything....for federal, social security, welfare. so i would say keep it....the more we can get from the government, the better us US citizens are.
2007-07-01 08:05:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
If you believe that you are receiving the benefit in error then, by continuing to accept it you are defrauding the company. You can be held liable.
If you underpaid tax because the IRS made an error, would they let you keep the money?
The only honest thing to do (which you already know) is report it and then get your health insurance situation sorted out some other way.
I come from the UK with its NHS so the US system of health insurance puzzles me but it's the system you have to live with. Would you not be in an even more difficult position if you were prosecuted for fraud?
2007-07-01 16:39:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not an attorney but this is my advice: You should fess up. 1) if you have a major claim, your status will be examined and you will be without coverage (BAD) 2) if you are caught, and eventually you probably will be, you will be 'asked' to contribute the cost of the insurance (which may be more $$$ than if you obtained insurance on your own or just did without) 3) An adult knows that you don't get something for nothing.
You know the moral answer to your question, it's just not the answer you want. Good luck.
2007-07-01 15:23:07 · answer #3 · answered by vbrink 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should alert the HR department of the agency you worked in. Sounds like it started off to be a clerical error. Such things can usually be easily straightened out quickly with no penalty to you. However, failure to report what you believe to be an error puts you at risk. Deliberate filings on an account that should be close is clearly fraud. You would be risking stiff penalties when caught. In today's world, it would only be a matter of time.
2007-07-01 15:29:25 · answer #4 · answered by billnzan 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Uh, yeah it is. You are taking something you know you're not entitled to. I would definitely notify someone, you could be held responsible for the months worth of coverage (premiums) that are over your entitlement amount. The government can be lax, that is a given, but eventually some bean counter somewhere is going to catch it and you will have major problems. Honesty does pay off, if you really need the coverage, apply for share of cost state assistance until you get back on your feet and get another job that offers health insurance. Good luck to you.
2007-07-01 15:09:23 · answer #5 · answered by hibicent 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Stealing is consciously taking what does not belong to yourself but belongs to others [government spending resources]. You should not take this insurance [as tax payers money or government resources shouldn't be spent in misallocation or mismanagement for things it wasn't intended for] and because the government may demand you repay them the money spent. It's good you're considering the moral reasons to decide!
2007-07-01 15:07:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Check with the Human Resources dept. See if this is a practice of theirs or why is it happening. Yes you are doing the right thing contacting them. Good for you for considering the situation as wrong. God will honor your honesty, perhaps with a new job and coverage once again.
2007-07-01 15:05:20 · answer #7 · answered by Steiner 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You may find should you need the insurance, that it is recognized you are not eligible and you will be technically without insurance anyhow. In other words, whether you have it on paper or not, in reality they are unlikely to honor it and so actually you don't have insurance.
2007-07-01 15:11:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
With every choice there is a consequence.
If you continue to live with something you believe is wrong, and you are willing to accept the consequence don't worry about it, although I think the fact that you are asking this question it obviously bothers you.
Personally speaking I think peace of mind is worth more
2007-07-01 15:06:55 · answer #9 · answered by ♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♪♫♪♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♪♫♪♫♪♫♪ 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You're probly covered under COBRA. This allows you to continue to get health insurance through a previous employer until you find a new source. There is a time limit on how long you can do this though.
2007-07-01 15:07:10 · answer #10 · answered by angry 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Most companies are required by law to continue insurance for a certain number of months and offer C.O.B.R.A, which gives you the option to continue the insurance out of your own pocket. They Will send you a letter soon that it is ending. You are not stealing.
2007-07-01 15:05:25 · answer #11 · answered by Toolegit 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋