New UPS Health and Welfare Package in DISPATCH - Union

[pretender]

Did anyone here receive the UPS Health Care DISPATCH that outlines the new Health and Welfare Package? We have the choice of staying with the current plan or enrolling in the new one in November. In glancing over the brochure, there are some things to like about it--But what is the catch??

[browned out]

I think it is the same plan the management is in. I have heard most of them say that it is not as good as ours.

Once you enrol in the new plan you can not go back to the traditional plan. I would wait and see how others like or dislike it after a year or two go by.

UPS wil always let you change to the new plan but you will not be able to switch back. Haste makes waste. Why won't they let you switch back if you don't like the new package?

My mother works in the health care claims/billing industry. She has told me horror stories about the PCN PPN PPO plans. She said she had a claim denial for a man who cut the tip of his finger off and went to the ER for treatment. The plan said this was not an emergency and denied coverage claiming that he could have went to a network doctor. He had to pay the whole bill. What the what?

Hopefully the union will get on the ball and tell us the pros and cons or TDU or anybody with knowledge of the issues. God only knows UPS will only tell us the pros.

I'd wait

[toonertoo]

I just glanced over it this am, it looked pretty good, BUT why would they be upgrading our plan for no reason? Definetely needs scrutiny.

[brett636]

Thats my first reaction to it as well. At a glance it looks like a good deal, but why are they pushing for this and how does it compare to what we have now? If I recall correctly, the last time I looked at the benefits book I recieved when I qualified back in 2000 we had a maximum benefit of $500k lifetime, and this plan shows a maximum benefit of $1 million. I noticed though it says on the prescriptions that there is no cost for generics, but a $5 copay for brand name medications. I don't go to the doctor much nor do I get medication very often, but I've never paid a cent for medication since working for UPS. Seems like a very slight downgrade there. The rest its hard to compare because I don't know exactly what is in the plan we have now. I definitely need more information before I switch, if I switch.

BTW, do the rest of you have three insurance cards like I do? One for doctor visits(Aetna), one for hospital and ER visits (Blue cross/Blue Shield), and one for prescriptions(Medco). Under the Dispatch information I recieved it looks like everything is condensed into one provider (Blue Cross/Blue Shield for my state) which depends on what state you are in. Perhaps it benefits UPS by putting everything under one provider instead of three separate providers?

[toonertoo]

I saw the difference in the prescription prices, but the mail order is free. We just switched over to that anyway. No more going to the drug store. Still a 5 dollar copay is wonderful compared to most.

I like them offering more insurance if the price is right, (life) , I will be interested in that.
As for the in network doctors and dentist, Id have to see the network, as I dont want to switch dentists or doctors, so I would pay the difference, thats fine.
Yes the 3 card thing is a pain, trying to explain, that one is not primary, just a plan with three companies, one pays one thing, one another, and I never know which is which.
Just like anything we need to look it over.
I will say at least UPS is giving us time to peruse it, instead of stuffing it down our throats, like some things. The powers that be must know that the HR 3200 wont pass, for them to even be worried about our health benefits.

[filthpig]

All of my medical is handled through Blue Cross. Prescriptions by CVS via mail. Not sure about Dentist.
Happy with all of them.

[pretender]

Originally Posted by toonertoo

I saw the difference in the prescription prices, but the mail order is free. We just switched over to that anyway. No more going to the drug store. Still a 5 dollar copay is wonderful compared to most.

I like them offering more insurance if the price is right, (life) , I will be interested in that.
As for the in network doctors and dentist, Id have to see the network, as I dont want to switch dentists or doctors, so I would pay the difference, thats fine.
Yes the 3 card thing is a pain, trying to explain, that one is not primary, just a plan with three companies, one pays one thing, one another, and I never know which is which.
Just like anything we need to look it over.
I will say at least UPS is giving us time to peruse it, instead of stuffing it down our throats, like some things. The powers that be must know that the HR 3200 wont pass, for them to even be worried about our health benefits.

I also was surprised that with HR3200 up in the air, that UPS would be offering this to us--Although, I would take the worst UPS plan over anything that the government gets involved in.

It is possible to check the networks to see if you doctor/dentist is a member. I checked, and mine are indeed enrolled in the networks.

I still need a lot more information before I would feel comfortable switching...

[IWorkAsDirected]

As far as where I worked, our Health and Welfare was through the Union, so if you were to switch to a company run plan it would be easier for them to throw you into the government run one to save money. Do you want that?

[trplnkl]

Originally Posted by IWorkAsDirected

As far as where I worked, our Health and Welfare was through the Union, so if you were to switch to a company run plan it would be easier for them to throw you into the government run one to save money. Do you want that?

Exactly! Get the big picture, I promise you UPS is looking to save UPS money not to enhance our health care. As it is now, with our health care going through a contractual agreement with the union UPS's hands are tied unless we decide to change what we have. If the public option is passed, there would be nothing keeping UPS from totally discontinueing paying for health coverage outside of the contract. Hello ObamaCare and all that entails.

[feederdriver06]

My current benefits are excellent and there is no need to examine anything new the company is pushing. Im not switching anything.

[ol'browneye]

Originally Posted by trplnkl

Hello ObamaCare and all that entails.

Don't you mean "all the entrails"?

[pretender]

Originally Posted by trplnkl

Exactly! Get the big picture, I promise you UPS is looking to save UPS money not to enhance our health care. As it is now, with our health care going through a contractual agreement with the union UPS's hands are tied unless we decide to change what we have. If the public option is passed, there would be nothing keeping UPS from totally discontinueing paying for health coverage outside of the contract. Hello ObamaCare and all that entails.

This is what I can't figure out: Why are the unions/Teamsters in favor of ObamaCare???

[Hoaxster]

Originally Posted by pretender

This is what I can't figure out: Why are the unions/Teamsters in favor of ObamaCare???

He's a Socialist.

[brett636]

As it stands I don't even use the insurance that I have. Guess I am the insurance company's favorite type of person to insure. I go to the doctor about once every year and a half or so, and I need medication even less frequent than that. I could probably switch and not notice a difference, but if its worked well for me so far why change?

[olupsdrv15]

Point is you may not get the CHOICE!! What if ALL corporations switched to Obamacare because it was cheaper for them to do so? What kind of care would you, your wife and kids and perhaps grandparents receive per BHO? Who would be left out in the cold and WHY????

[pretender]

Originally Posted by Hoaxster

He's a Socialist.

That is painfully obvious!

I will rephrase my question: If you are a union member in general, and specifically a Teamster, chances are that you have a pretty good insurance package. Why would you have the slightest interest in switching to Obamacare? Why would someone blindly follow their union leaders--they are Socialists too.

[trplnkl]

Originally Posted by pretender

That is painfully obvious!

I will rephrase my question: If you are a union member in general, and specifically a Teamster, chances are that you have a pretty good insurance package. Why would you have the slightest interest in switching to Obamacare? Why would someone blindly follow their union leaders--they are Socialists too.

I haven't received one of the letters mentioned in the first post on here, so I can only go by what was stated. The letter about changing was from the company, not the union. The company pays to the insurance that the union supplies to us with that money. The union uses that money to also as investments for overall union benefit. The company would rather cut out the middle man so to speak. The union supports Obama because he is a Democrat(who have traditionally supported the working class), his being a socialist is just frosting. BTW, I do not blindly follow the union leaders anymore than I blindly follow any politician, I sure wished no one else did either.

One of the best quotes I ever heard from my Dad was, " If they took the money out of politics and religion, there wouldn't be as many politicians or preachers.".

[trplnkl]

Originally Posted by brett636

As it stands I don't even use the insurance that I have. Guess I am the insurance company's favorite type of person to insure. I go to the doctor about once every year and a half or so, and I need medication even less frequent than that. I could probably switch and not notice a difference, but if its worked well for me so far why change?

Brett, you're probably pretty young, relatively speaking. You will eventually need to use the insurance more and more as the years go by and the job wears and tears at your body, it's just a fact of life. All this heath care stuff is going to effect everyone sooner or later.

[brett636]

Originally Posted by trplnkl

Brett, you're probably pretty young, relatively speaking. You will eventually need to use the insurance more and more as the years go by and the job wears and tears at your body, it's just a fact of life. All this heath care stuff is going to effect everyone sooner or later.

I'm 27, but I am under no allusion that I will be this way forever. If I weren't doing this job I would be getting fat sitting behind a desk and that brings on its own set of problems. I know its important, and I want more information before making any such decision on where my health care comes from. Right now, though, its more important to be sure that it does not come from the government. Too many bad things can happen if that comes true.

[Ms.PacMan]

The insurance they are offering you sounds like the insurance we have - which is UPS. I don't know when the locals around here switched but it was +15 yrs ago.

Medco, $5 for name brands prescriptions, $0 for generic, BCBS of Illinois, 80/20 co-pay of negotiated rates for doctors, 100% hospital, 24 chiropractic visits per years - no co-pay. Aetna dental which is excellent imo.

Yes, the providers have to belong to the network but I've only ran across one physician group that didn't belong, which was my son's oral surgeon when he had his wisdom teeth pulled. And because there was no oral surgeon within 30 miles that was a provider - they paid as though they were in the network.

One thing you all might want to consider is that the UPS insurance for retirees (last I knew) is $50/mo for single, $100/mo for husband & wife (no family insurance). I think this is a lot less than what the teamster insurance charges.

[Work right slow and safe]

it sounds like they are trying to get everyone on the same plane to save money over in so cal we could not get the blue cross we only had a chose from ppo aetna or hmo kiser free gen drugs 5 for name brand 1,000,000 life time ben i got this back in 2007 I think they can get a better deal if they get more people on this plan i love it no problems everything has been covered for me

[Hoaxster]

Originally Posted by Work right slow and safe

it sounds like they are trying to get everyone on the same plane to save money over in so cal we could not get the blue cross we only had a chose from ppo aetna or hmo kiser free gen drugs 5 for name brand 1,000,000 life time ben i got this back in 2007 I think they can get a better deal if they get more people on this plan i love it no problems everything has been covered for me

I guess I am non-grammatically challenge ... HUH?

[airbusfxr]

Remember this at contract time and make sure it is on top of your wants. UPS has offered the aircraft mechanics to pay for health care, give a raise that will not cover COLA or that insurance, more subcontracting and no retro for 4 years without a contract. Our strike vote will be counted in Sept, and we will need everyones support during this time. Managers can afford to pay for insurance, they get MIP, etc etc, we are all working to make sure customers are provided a valuable service.

[thelus]

why do we throw the word around like socialism like its a bad thing.

[TechGrrl]

Originally Posted by thelus

why do we throw the word around like socialism like its a bad thing.

'Cause some people are blinded by Sarah Palin's beauty?