Airtran Insurance question

[IdRtherBsailing]

Have there been any talks pertaining to your new contract in trying to improve your health care system? Just wondering.

 

[SkiFishFly]

I think everyone except the Company and the Negotiating committee want to see this improved...

 

[Thunderchief]

The TA only limits how much the company can increase the current premiums, no reduction at all for us...
I am in the HMO w a family and pay over 450 a month...ouch
-TC

 

[CitationLover]

The TA only limits how much the company can increase the current premiums, no reduction at all for us...
I am in the HMO w a family and pay over 450 a month...ouch
-TC

is the hmo a local one or a national hmo? if local, then if MKE becomes a new domicile they might have a new national provider with cheaper rates (or more expensive rates).

 

[j41driver]

National. The majority of our pilots do not live in the A-T-L.

 

[Citrusflyer]

The TA only limits how much the company can increase the current premiums, no reduction at all for us...
I am in the HMO w a family and pay over 450 a month...ouch
-TC

Read a little closer. The TA allows the company to raise (without limit) the copays one time during the duration of the contract.

So, pay over $450/month and then get much larger payments at the doc's office. What a deal.....

 

[CitationLover]

the NPA could always negotiate directly with a health provider to provide an alternate if you think costs are too much, its called group health insurance.

health costs everywhere are high.

 

[-9Capt]

the NPA could always negotiate directly with a health provider to provide an alternate if you think costs are too much, its called group health insurance.

.

That's been looked at.

 

[j41driver]

That's been looked at.

And......

 

[-9Capt]

It wasn't cost effective.

 

[tubelcane]

Why exactly is that? My last company had 1500 employees total. Our healthcare was similar to Airtran's and we payed 75 bucks per pay, copays were 15 bucks. This was in 2003 - 2005. I just don't get why I have to pay more than double that at a company with over 8000 employees. Someone please splain this to me!

 

[CitationLover]

Why exactly is that? My last company had 1500 employees total. Our healthcare was similar to Airtran's and we payed 75 bucks per pay, copays were 15 bucks. This was in 2003 - 2005. I just don't get why I have to pay more than double that at a company with over 8000 employees. Someone please splain this to me!

couple of theories

airline pilots have some of the highest morbidity rates around

health care costs increase at twice the rate of inflation

the air tran pilot group contains a poor combination of pre existing conditions, smokers, etc that the underwriters deemed risky

 

[ultrarunner]

Eventually, companies will start discriminating more against unhealthy employees.

OR, the heath-care providers will simply charge the unhealthy lot exorbitant premiums. When smokers and such start shelling out a couple grand a month for insurance, folks will start to re-evaluate their habits. After a decade or so we'll have a healthier work force and a healthier aging population.

 

[CitationLover]

After a decade or so we'll have a healthier work force and a healthier aging population.

just what we need more aging which leads to more pension losses and social security losses which leads to more health care as seniors need it more.

 

[wood pecker]

According to our NPA leader during a recurrent lunch, he stated that if the pilots had a different policy than the rates for the FAs, and everyone else would rise. The next person commented well then their union can fix their problem correct. Then AP commented well we actually have alot of pilots w/ prexisting conditions that would not be covered if we changed policies. Basically there was no solution but hey no more $25 jumpseat charge. Is there a limit to how many times you can sign the recall list? Anything new Lear70? What about instead of losing all 60 hours of emergency bank we negotiate only 30 hours?