Can a health insurance company charge 2 deductibles in less than a year if the coverage began in July and then new year began in January?

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Can a health insurance company charge 2 deductibles in less than a year if the coverage began in July and then new year began in January?

Had an illness in December that ran into January. I paid for a deductible from July to December and then a second deductible in January. It is less than a year that I had the coverage and paid 2 separate deductibles. Is this legal? How can I fight it?

Asked on May 17, 2013 under Insurance Law, Maine

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 10 years ago | Contributor

Yes, they can do this. "Year" in this context refers to plan year, not calendar year. If you join a plan/get coverage starting in the middle of a plan year, then you have to satisfy the entire deductible in the remaining portion of the plan year, and when the next plan year starts, the deductible starts over, even if, as here, it's less than a calendar year.


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