Cost of Medical Benefits

[gimmeabreak]

The cost for Management health care benefits is going up again in January. Drug coverage is changing drastically, and the entire medical plan will cost much more than we are paying today. Your friendly HR rep will be holding meetings in the next two weeks to review these changes.

 

[upssalesguy]

whats new?

 

[Catatonic]

Well at least we get a double raise next year to make up for the one we didn't get this year. And I hear it's a 6% match next year on 401k. Looking good!

 

[upssalesguy]

Well at least we get a double raise next year to make up for the one we didn't get this year. And I hear it's a 6% match next year on 401k. Looking good!

that would be cool, so i'll go on a limb and say no way.


in fact, i wonder if we will ever get the 401k match back.

 

[trmulligan]

Guys, any ideas on alternatives to the mgt health care pkg? It sucks pretty bad and I and others are looking to "jump ship" to another carrier to save money
thx

 

[moreluck]

Yeah, you could go to private insurance for you and the Mrs. and pay $1400 plus a month. The grass isn't always greener.

 

[Dragon]

Guys, any ideas on alternatives to the mgt health care pkg? It sucks pretty bad and I and others are looking to "jump ship" to another carrier to save money
thx

I think I am going to "jump ship" and get on my wife's plan, way cheaper and better benefits.

 

[FracusBrown]

I think I am going to "jump ship" and get on my wife's plan, way cheaper and better benefits.

That's exactly what they are hoping for. A little cheaper for you and a lot cheaper for UPS.

 

[Andorian440]

I'm glad I'm not the only person who is frustrated by this. They're doing this to us because they know we don't have any other options right now. I wonder if they'll regret it once the economy picks up and people start finding work elsewhere.

 

[Hawk780]

I think I am going to "jump ship" and get on my wife's plan, way cheaper and better benefits.

Did the same thing, never looked back. But I'm lucky, my wife works for a big company with benefits similar to what UPS offered 10 years ago. It's a shame, but the reality is the healthcare costs are skyrocketing, so it's logical (albeit painful) that the consumer takes on more of the burden...

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

Did the same thing, never looked back. But I'm lucky, my wife works for a big company with benefits similar to what UPS offered 10 years ago. It's a shame, but the reality is the healthcare costs are skyrocketing, so it's logical (albeit painful) that the consumer takes on more of the burden...

...unfortunately it willl be our (hourlies) turn in 2013.

 

[klein]

Between upping pension, more taxes, and soon more for medical, I think you'll be lucky if your net income does not decrease over the next decade.

 

[UnconTROLLed]

Between upping pension, more taxes, and soon more for medical, I think you'll be lucky if your net income does not decrease over the next decade.

Thank you socialism

 

[klein]

Thank you socialism

Actually, that's capitalisum at it's best.
It allowed to have the highest drug prices on the planet, along with the highest paid doctors, nurses, and insurance companies making billions of profit, with the US paying in average more then twice as much then any other country in the world.
It also allowed for many to retire with more monthly income, then when they were working.
It also neglected the deficit spending over many years and years, being business and tax friendly, and hoping more jobs will create more government income. Wasn't possible under Reagan, and hasn't been possible under Bush.

 

[UnconTROLLed]

Actually, that's capitalisum at it's best.
It allowed to have the highest drug prices on the planet, along with the highest paid doctors, nurses, and insurance companies making billions of profit, with the US paying in average more then twice as much then any other country in the world.
It also allowed for many to retire with more monthly income, then when they were working.
It also neglected the deficit spending over many years and years, being business and tax friendly, and hoping more jobs will create more government income. Wasn't possible under Reagan, and hasn't been possible under Bush.

Were you saying upping pension payout, or contribution to funding?

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

Were you saying upping pension payout, or contribution to funding?

I think he was referring to what is happening in my pension plan (NYS Teamsters) where one of our split raises each year for the next 3 years will be diverted to our pension fund.

 

[klein]

Extra contributions to keep it going (it will become never ending, as people are living longer and the workforce to pensioners ratio is getting smaller and smaller).

Why does a 67 year old pensioner need $4000+ in company pension, plus SS pension, and earn more money then he ever had during his working years ?
Just another example that the next generations will need to make up for it, and pay the price.
(live today, and not for tomorrow attitude).

Exactly Upstate !
You hit it on the nail, that is what I meant.

No raises to pay for pension, then no raises to pay for medicare, no "net" raises to pay for more taxes, etc....

 

[FracusBrown]

Actually, that's capitalisum at it's best.
It allowed to have the highest drug prices on the planet, along with the highest paid doctors, nurses, and insurance companies making billions of profit, with the US paying in average more then twice as much then any other country in the world.
It also allowed for many to retire with more monthly income, then when they were working.
It also neglected the deficit spending over many years and years, being business and tax friendly, and hoping more jobs will create more government income. Wasn't possible under Reagan, and hasn't been possible under Bush.

The US pays more than everyone else for health care because we are "entitled" A medical provider has to order every test possible and has to pursue every treatment possible to avoid being held responsible for a 400 pound person dieing of heart disease. The US has a very large percentage of unhealthy and obese people that cause their own illnesses. Were entitled to eat like a hog, sit on our rump, drink like fish, sue like a ambulance chasing lawyer, have free medical care, free legal representation (by contingency) but were not responsible personally. The doctor, the lawyer, the employer, the government, the insurer is responsible and on the hook for the expense. No sensible person would use their own funds the way we use the funds of the system. Being entitled to these things without personal responsibility is why is costs so much.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

Fracus, this is part of the reason the NYS Teamsters Health Fund instituted a $10 co-pay for Doctor's visits and a $100 co-pay for ER visits. Now, the $10 is more of a nuisance, but the $100 has had an effect and has lowered the numer of ER visits and resulting costs.

 

[klein]

Here, this should get some nerves going.
Rediculous Hospital charges !

Holtzman, a consumer advocate with Medical Billing Advocates of America, looks at medical bills for a living.
Among the excessive charges she's seen: A patient in Florida was billed $140 dollars for one Tylenol pill; a patient in South Carolina was billed $1,000 for a tooth brush; a patient in Georgia was billed more than $4,000 for 41 bags of IV saline solution when she went to the emergency room for a two-hour visit and used just one bag.

Watch this CNN video below:

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/health/2010/03/01/cohen.health.care.bills.cnn