This client inspired (?) anecdote reminds me of “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” (Art Linkletter, not that other guy, but I date myself.)

It’s harder than ever these days to hire talent. Thus, it took ten months for small business owner ‘Clouseau’ to replace a key employee. He called for help with the health plan enrollment.

Then he called back. “Jon, I just noticed we never took ‘Papillon’ (former employee) off the plan. Can you fix this?”

[Note to readers. This business has just six employees, four of whom are itemized on the monthly insurer invoice.]

O.K., I’ll ask. (Obsequious is my middle name.) Insurers sometimes allow retroactive cancellations, but they’re under no obligation to do so and at most, may go back 30-90 days.

A word of advice for those of you with individual coverage, too.

If you auto-pay with a credit card or bank draft, please check your monthly statements. Clue; if they’re not billing you, you probably don’t have coverage. I can’t “fix” that when discovered in the ER!

Reviewing a monthly invoice if you have 300 employees may be tedious, but for small groups and individuals, all I can say is “C’mon, Man!”