First Colorado’s state health insurance exchange gave America “brosurance,” and now they’re giving Coloradans dogsurance — literally.
Shane Smith of Fort Collins, Colo., attempted to sign up for health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s exchange, via the marketplace’s phone application. But instead of receiving a letter notifying him of his new plan, his dog, Baxter, was sent one informing him a health insurance account had been opened in his name, Denver’s Fox31 reported.
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“I thought, Wow, this is so awesome,'” Smith told Fox31. “They have gone out of their way to insure my 14-year-old Yorkie.”
The Fort Collins man is unsure how the confirmation letter ended up going to Baxter, but said it could have been because of the security questions a representative with Connect for Health Colorado asked him.
“There was some kind of code or something, so I gave them my dog’s name,” he said. “They must have just put it in the wrong slot or something.”
After receiving the letter, Smith said he was able to call the health insurance exchange and fix the mistake. But he noted the hilarity of a dog receiving health coverage, especially after the headaches Obamacare has caused nationwide.
“It was pretty funny,” he said. “Typical Obamacare, that they would insure your dog by mistake.”
Smith’s original health insurance policy was cancelled because of the Affordable Care Act — like millions of others across the country — and he said he’s still uncertain of what’s to come with his health insurance.
“There’s been a lot of headaches that’s come from all of this. All the phone calls. All the nonsense,” Smith said. “They ended up giving me good coverage I think, but who knows if they’re going to take it away. As long as Baxter’s covered that’s all that counts.”
According to Fox31, Connect for Health Colorado did release a statement following the incident, but couldn’t comment on the letter sent to the Yorkie.
“In general, our letters to customers are generated according to information that is provided by the customer into the system either online or over the phone,” a spokesperson said. “In other words, our system does not make up a name when generating a letter. As with any new system, mistakes are possible and when notified by customers, we work quickly to resolve the situation.”
