There is an early scene in the classic film comedy "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" in which a man pushes a cart full of bodies through a plague-wracked village, calling "Bring out your dead!  Bring out your dead!"  One villager begins to unload a body onto the cart, when the 'body' cries, "I'm not dead yet!"  It is one of the funniest scenes in a very funny movie.

Michael Thompson of Northern Illinois may not think that scene is very funny at all.  The 59 year old received a letter in the mail last week addressed to "The Estate of Michael Thompson".  The letter,  printed on CIGNA corporate letterhead, states:

Medicare has reported to us the death of Michael Thompson.  Please accept our condolences.

Michael Thompson's coverage in CIGNA's Medicare Rx has ended as of 08/01/2009.  If plan premiums were paid for any month after 08/01/2009, we will issue a refund to the Estate within 30 days of this letter.

If this information is wrong, please contact your local Social Security office to have their records corrected. 

The letter concludes with contact information for both Social Security and CIGNA.

I laughed when I first heard about this incident.  But then I realized what a nightmare it must be for poor Michael Thompson and his family.  Michael Thompson is, in fact, quite ill.  He receives regular in-home hospice care, and requires about $2,000 per month in prescription medication.  Unfortunately for Mr. Thompson, Medicare and CIGNA do not pay for prescriptions or hospice care for dead people.  

I'm sure the problem resulted  from something as simple as a typographical error made by an anonymous clerical worker who struck the wrong computer key while entering some billing information.  That error, however, moved through a system that includes private insurance, Medicare, Social Security, banks, and who knows what else.

In the Monty Python scene described above, the supposedly dead man continues to plead his case, shouting "I'm feeling much better!  I think I'll go for a walk."

Hang in there, Michael Thompson.  I'm sure the corrections are working their way through the system, and all will be fixed soon.  In the meantime, get some fresh air and go for a walk to prove to any doubters that you are still very much alive!