Central States Insurance

[mjmaverick]

Hello All,

I hope that no one objects too harshly to a non UPSer posting a thread but I really need some input and feedback on an issue from you guys.

I am a mechanic for ExpressJet Airlines and we are Teamsters. At this point in time we are in the middle of wage concession negotiations with our company which under the current economic conditions for airlines is to be expected. However, the Teamsters have decided that THEY think it would be great for us to take this time to move our health insurance to Central States. The TEAMSTERS shoved this into the proposal to the company with out any consent or discussion with us the union members. Needless to say there are alot of angry people.

What I would appreciate getting from you guys is your take on Central States. Any info and insight that you can provide. Currently the company has our insurance through Blus Cross Blue Shield of Texas and no one that I have talked to has ever had any trouble getting things paid for or doctors refusing to see them.

Thank you for you help.

 

[Hangingon]

Run? UPS just payed billions of dollars to pull their employees out of that plan. I was not in CS but assume that they wouldn't have done that if the plan was solid.

 

[mjmaverick]

Really guys I could use all the info that you can give me. I need ammo to help convince fellow employees to not approve this change. Most already agree it is a bad idea but I need some solid back up so that no one gets wishy washy on it.

 

[atatbl]

Wait around, you will get your responses. 99% of them will tell you the "correct" answer.

 

[drewed]

Uhh, who says the central states isnt equal to what you have now?

 

[rod]

My family and I have been covered under a Central States Blue Cross/Blue Shield group plan for many years (30 full time and going on 8 after retiring). We have NEVER had any problem and have enjoyed better coverage than most anyone else receives from their jobs. It really all depends on which local you belong to-- some are better off financially than others. Probably not the answer you were looking for but that's just the way I feel.

 

[atatbl]

Uhh, who says the central states isnt equal to what you have now?

lol, I like you Drew.... but did you just suggest that two separate health plans could possibly be equal?

 

[barnyard]

I am also in Central States. The buyout was for the pension, not H&W. Our Blue Cross/Blue Shield coverage is excellent. We have no complaints whatsoever.

TB

 

[JonFrum]

The Central States Pension Fund is a seperate entity from the Health & Welfare Fund but both share some things including an informative website:
http://www.centralstates.org

The Special Counsel Reports have a section on the H&W Fund:
http://www.centralstatesfunds.org/cs/Spcl_Councel_Report.asp

As does Teamwork Magazine:
http://www.centralstatesfunds.org/cs/plans/teamwork.asp

You can view IRS Form-990 Annual Reports for the years 2004, 2005, and 2006 for free by searching for:
CENTRAL STATES SOUTHEAST & SOUTHWEST AREAS HEALTH & WELFARE FUND
Rosemont, IL 60018
here:
http://www.guidestar.org

 

[mjmaverick]

Not saying that it is not equal. I am just going off a few things that I have read here and elsewhere indicating that it is not. Alot of people are doing research on this and the things that we are finding are not encouraging. By the way, there is no "correct" answer to this question. I will take any feedback that I can get but this is an important issue and we do not want to make a bad decision that will haunt all of us for the next 3 years. Just trying to get some info from people who have actually dealt with Central States. The majority of stuff that I read talks about refusal to pay, caps on yearly use and the lack of coverage for any type of well care. By the way, we currently have 90/10 with no cap. Just trying to find the truth here. Granted, my first post does indicate that I want the evidence for the negative but like I said, from every thing else I have read it looked like that was the majority. I will take any feedback at all.

 

[mjmaverick]

The Central States Pension Fund is a seperate entity from the Health & Welfare Fund but both share some things including an informative website:
http://www.centralstates.org

The Special Counsel Reports have a section on the H&W Fund:
http://www.centralstatesfunds.org/cs/Spcl_Councel_Report.asp

As does Teamwork Magazine:
http://www.centralstatesfunds.org/cs/plans/teamwork.asp

You can view IRS Form-990 Annual Reports for the years 2004, 2005, and 2006 for free by searching for:
CENTRAL STATES SOUTHEAST & SOUTHWEST AREAS HEALTH & WELFARE FUND
Rosemont, IL 60018
here:
http://www.guidestar.org

Sorry if I don't trust anything that the Teamsters have to say about something which they have a hand in running. They have been looking out for their own interests and not ours in this whole negotiating episode so there are not many, including me, who trust anything they have to say anywhere.

 

[rod]

Sorry if I don't trust anything that the Teamsters have to say about something which they have a hand in running. They have been looking out for their own interests and not ours in this whole negotiating episode so there are not many, including me, who trust anything they have to say anywhere.

In all reality you can't believe anything anyone tells you nowdays----especially info gathered on the internet It's like believing the car salesman when he tells you the new full size 4 X 4 pickup your dealing on is going to get 20 mpg. or that ethanol is good for the country

 

[mjmaverick]

In all reality you can't believe anything anyone tells you nowdays----especially info gathered on the internet It's like believing the car salesman when he tells you the new full size 4 X 4 pickup your dealing on is going to get 20 mpg. or that ethanol is good for the country

True indeed. At this point I will take any info non-teamster leadership fabricated that I can get. I must agree on the ethanol line though.

 

[tieguy]

Hello All,

I hope that no one objects too harshly to a non UPSer posting a thread but I really need some input and feedback on an issue from you guys.

I am a mechanic for ExpressJet Airlines and we are Teamsters. At this point in time we are in the middle of wage concession negotiations with our company which under the current economic conditions for airlines is to be expected. However, the Teamsters have decided that THEY think it would be great for us to take this time to move our health insurance to Central States. The TEAMSTERS shoved this into the proposal to the company with out any consent or discussion with us the union members. Needless to say there are alot of angry people.

What I would appreciate getting from you guys is your take on Central States. Any info and insight that you can provide. Currently the company has our insurance through Blus Cross Blue Shield of Texas and no one that I have talked to has ever had any trouble getting things paid for or doctors refusing to see them.

Thank you for you help.

Danger will robinson, danger and more danger.

Central states is a leaking barge that will end up costing UPS much more then the six billion dollar band aid we applied this year.
They lost 3 billion dollars last year and much more to come. New pension laws that kicked in this year will have them cutting beni's down to a pittance.

 

[tieguy]

Sorry if I don't trust anything that the Teamsters have to say about something which they have a hand in running. They have been looking out for their own interests and not ours in this whole negotiating episode so there are not many, including me, who trust anything they have to say anywhere.

oooh what was that loud noise I just heard. Why I do believe our resident site scab just caught the ole slap.