Anthem Sends Out Checks Erroneously

A Paducah, Ky. insurance company is trying to recover money it sent by mistake to 10,400 people in western Kentucky.

The checks were sent May 15 to teachers and other state workers covered by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield last year, said Anthem spokeswoman Christi Lanier-Robinson of Louisville. She said the checks were worth up to $2,000, but she was unsure of the total amount.

“It was due to a processing error in Anthem’s prescription management program,” Lanier-Robinson said.

Anthem was sending letters this week asking people to return the checks or pay the money back if the checks have been cashed.

Lanier-Robinson said the material will have instructions and a phone number to call if people have questions.

“We are moving forward with recovery efforts, and we believe once people find out these checks were sent mistakenly, they will do the right thing,” Lanier-Robinson said.

She did not say how Anthem would enforce repayment if people resist.

Checks were sent by Anthem firm One-Nation Insurance Co., but she said she didn’t know exactly where the checks came from or what caused the error.

“A lot of people were suspicious right off the bat because some of (the checks) were large amounts,” said Mary Beth Ward with Owensboro Public Schools.

Some people didn’t spend the money right away. Scott Hawkins, personnel director with Daviess County Public Schools, said he and his wife held on to their checks.

“The amount in mine was more than I paid out in prescriptions for the whole year,” Hawkins said. “There didn’t appear to be any rhyme or reason for the amount.”

Hawkins said his office was initially told by Anthem last week that the checks were sent because co-pays had not been properly reduced, therefore resulting in overcharges. His office was later told they were sent in error, he said.

Tomi Mathew of Maceo, a substitute teacher in Daviess County, said she spent the $490 check she received before learning that it was a mistake.

“I said that’s their problem, not mine,” Mathew said.