Question about Federal Laws regarding health insurance

Needing some help or a resource to quote on this one....

Paul and I got married which creates a qualifying event for a SEP (special enrollment period) for our health insurance coverage. I had previously spoken to HR that yes, even though he is already on my insurance as a domestic partner that we are still entitled to change plans if we so choose within 31 days of said qualifying event.

I had called previously to HR to determine, that yes, this was a SEP and we can change coverage during this window. ALL calls are recorded and kept too, but of course now they say there is no record of me calling at all!

I did all I was supposed to, and went to complete the enrollment online today with my company, but was having trouble changing him from DP to spouse for some reason.... Called HR and got yelled at by a woman who wanted to argue with me who said I CAN'T change coverage, this does not constitute a qualifying event for a SEP at all. I said it was a federal law and she said well it isn't for us. I explained that I am pretty sure Federal Laws trump any company policy that you might have..... Promised a call back tonight, but never got one surprise, surprise....

Anyhow, tomorrow is the last week day I can change this as we were married June 13th. I NEED to make sure I make my intentions known somehow so we can do this change now to get better coverage.

How do I protect this in case it does get dragged past the allowable window by my employer?

Where do I find the actual laws, not just the references to them?

Should I retain an attorney to help me with this? It's not something I can afford right now but this is really important. And which branch of law does this fall under? DOJ? Labor?

I know someone on here has the answers I seek. I have done a cursory search on web and found references but nothing listing the actual code....

Good point Clock. Kristi your congressman is Dr. Tom Price. He is a rising star. I have met him a couple of times. His office should be very responsive.

Jack

Washington DC Office:
Congressman Tom Price
100 Cannon House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4501
Fax: 202-225-4656
Click here for a map of the Capitol

District Office:
Congressman Tom Price
85-C Mill Street, Suite 300
Roswell, GA 30075
Phone: 770-998-0049
Fax: 770-998-0050
Click here for a map of the GA Office

Is that him?

I just shot off an email and will still call in the am... Keep your fingers crossed!!

BTW Paul is listed as my same sex domestic partner, not opposite sex !!! He is insisting he is Paul NOT PaulA ROFL! I told him they must have known before we did he would be on ADT soon!!

Okay, maybe PC humor that's not PC but we were rolling about it for a while!!

PS in the VERY least, I could send an affidavit of dissolution of Domestic Partnership effective the day before we married and then submit the marriage certificate.... BUT I shouldn't have to do that.....

right?

When I fax my marriage cert tomorrow I am also going to fax a letter saying I attempted to make the changes (and outline what) and am not allowed to, but this is what I wish to elect, etc.... And sign and notarize and witness it.... will also do all the other paperwork.

that way a paper trail not just calls.

Plus I will be requesting to speak to their legal team.

Thanks RCS, they HAVE to eventually, the law is on my side. I am so sick of having to fight little battles like this but will if I have to.

I found this link from the Department of Labor. Maybe it will help.

http://www.dol.gov/elaws/ebsa/health/4.asp

kukukajoo -

Looks like you're getting a good game plan in place. But while you're waiting for things to start happening, something else you might try doing is to google "health insurance questions and answers" (without quotes), which pulls up a bunch of sites, some of which may prove helpful. Some of those sites even have internal search engines, which may help refine your search.