By Tom Kuster, New Ulm
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I got my deserved refund check. Thank you, Rep. Tim Walz.
Quick story: After my retirement the Medicare drug plan — not realizing I had good coverage under my wife’s plan —mistakenly assessed me an LEP (late enrollment penalty), and raised my monthly premium.
Their notice giving me 10 days to prove I had coverage arrived when I was out of state, and the deadline passed before I got home.
Numerous phone calls and letters all got a “case closed, no appeal” response. The Social Security office said they could do nothing, and advised going to Walz. I did.
In a few days came the word: Case re-opened, send your evidence.
I did, the judgment was reversed, and they refunded my extra payments.
Thanks, Rep. Walz. You get things done. Without you, I would be paying an initial penalty of $181 and $16/month for the rest of my life.
