CAL New Hire Insurance Recommendations

[HHH]

For those of you that were recent new hires at CAL, which insurance plans would you recommend for a typical family of 4? I know the possibilities are seemingly endless; for that very reason I would like opinions on what others have used and their experiences - such as monthly premium, office visit costs, prescription costs, etc.

Thank you.

 

[Nixon]

Medicaid.

 

[minrest]

It's sad but true that you will qualify for Medicaid for your kids. It's 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage.

Another option, if your wife doesn't already work is to get a part-time job at Starbucks. I think they provide full coverage with 20 hrs. a week.

Good luck. It's a pain in the ass and demeaning but it will pay off in the end.

-minrest

 

[HHH]

Thanks for the info...

 

[Jetpipeovht]

Make sure you show up in full uniform when you apply for it.

 

[On Your Six]

It's sad but true that you will qualify for Medicaid for your kids. It's 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage.

Another option, if your wife doesn't already work is to get a part-time job at Starbucks. I think they provide full coverage with 20 hrs. a week.

Good luck. It's a pain in the ass and demeaning but it will pay off in the end.

-minrest

I think this is actually a very sensible option. A great point! Plus, you get free frapaccinos!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[1x1]

Once the demeaning 6 months w/o insurance is up, what kind of coverage can one opt for at CAL? What % is the employee responsible for?

Also, does the company really not offer a 401K match?

 

[Formula1]

No 401K Matching

No match on the 401K but you do get 12.75% of your gross put into your B-fund from day 1-

I have only put a measly 10 percent of my pay into the 401K on my first year salary and my B-Fund actually has ended up with about $500 more than my 401K after 10 months.

 

[zonker]

Once the demeaning 6 months w/o insurance is up, what kind of coverage can one opt for at CAL? What % is the employee responsible for?

Also, does the company really not offer a 401K match?

There is a 401k match if the company meets certain financial targets. Which they met this year.

 

[Hawg68]

Extend Benefits

For those of you that were recent new hires at CAL, which insurance plans would you recommend for a typical family of 4? I know the possibilities are seemingly endless; for that very reason I would like opinions on what others have used and their experiences - such as monthly premium, office visit costs, prescription costs, etc.

Thank you.

HHH,

Despite what my fellow flightinfoers are telling you there is a very affordable option for insurance provided by CAL through Extend Benefits.

I was able to get coverage for my family of 3 for less than $250/month.

I don't have a number for you, but it should be in that pile of papers they gave you during basic indoc.

Best of luck HHH. CAL is not the dream job (one doesn't exists, I know because I've tried them all), but in my opinion it is as good or better than any other people pusher out there.

Welcome aboard and fly safe.

For the rest of you clowns....if you can't provide positive support to your pilot brethren then put a sock in it or PM Poccono.....

Hawg out.

 

[1x1]

Sorry, I know I am opening myself up here for anihalation, but what is a B fund, and why doesn't my company have one!! 12.75% sounds pretty nice.

 

[HHH]

HHH,

Despite what my fellow flightinfoers are telling you there is a very affordable option for insurance provided by CAL through Extend Benefits.

I was able to get coverage for my family of 3 for less than $250/month.

I don't have a number for you, but it should be in that pile of papers they gave you during basic indoc.

Best of luck HHH. CAL is not the dream job (one doesn't exists, I know because I've tried them all), but in my opinion it is as good or better than any other people pusher out there.

Welcome aboard and fly safe.

For the rest of you clowns....if you can't provide positive support to your pilot brethren then put a sock in it or PM Poccono.....

Hawg out.

Thanks for the information! Also, thank you for the encouraging words and support...really appreciate it.

 

[Draginass]

A "B" fund is a retirement plan where the company invests in a professionally managed investment fund. The money invested is a percentage of your pay (added by the company), not taken out of your pay. The important point is that money is YOURS from day one and is protected from being stolen by the company in the event of bankruptcy, unlike a defined benefit plan (A-fund).

 

[catIIIc]

A "B" fund is a retirement plan where the company invests in a professionally managed investment fund. The money invested is a percentage of your pay (added by the company), not taken out of your pay. The important point is that money is YOURS from day one and is protected from being stolen by the company in the event of bankruptcy, unlike a defined benefit plan (A-fund).

At CAL the money is put into an account that we manage, just like our 401k. And yes all the money is ours and cannot be taken away, the only thing that happens is the amount being put into the account could change.

 

[rtseatrich]

Lots of CAL new hires have been leaving for SWA, UPS, FDX and DAL.

With lousy pay, crappy benfits, NO workrules, and a preferential bidding system that our MEC and 90% of our pilots have agreed is a nightmare, it's not surprising.

 

[av8tor4239]

Medicaid.

WTF is wrong with this picture?

 

[4got2flare]

Lots of CAL new hires have been leaving for SWA, UPS, FDX and DAL.

With lousy pay, crappy benfits, NO workrules, and a preferential bidding system that our MEC and 90% of our pilots have agreed is a nightmare, it's not surprising.

Yeah, Lots!!!! From the head of flight standards we lost a whole 17 so far in 2007.

 

[Scrapdog]

Lots of CAL new hires have been leaving for SWA, UPS, FDX and DAL.

With lousy pay, crappy benfits, NO workrules, and a preferential bidding system that our MEC and 90% of our pilots have agreed is a nightmare, it's not surprising.

I'm going to go ahead and say it. I think you're full of crap. Give us some numbers on the new folks that have left. I'll bet you can count them on one hand, possibly two. And please don't feed us any lines of "yeah, well my buddy told me it was tons," or any other BS.

1. SWA - yeah possibly. They've been hiring pretty steady so I can understand if a few folks left for them. I also know a few that left B6 and prior DAL hires that have left for them as well. Touche.

2. UPS - maybe, probably not. They're hiring window has opened and closed within days the last couple of years. Very sketchy hiring to say the least.

3. FDX - again, probably not many at all. Same deal, their window has been closed for some time (and I'm very familiar with their act).

4. DAL - YGBSM. What a joke. I heard one guy left and a couple were thinking about it...and that was from a guy who knew a guy.

Spare us your rhetoric or provide us some factual data. If not, go join Pocono for a tea party or barbie doll dress up.

 

[contrail67]

I do not know the cost of this but my insurance company....Allstate does offer medical...really high deductable. Might want to check it as a option. Just got my cobra papers today...my employer is $900 per month to continue on their plan when I leave...don't need it though. They have to legally give you this option if you did not know it...usually very expensive. Even the high deductable is better than nothing...just don't let anyone go outside!

 

[minrest]

HHH,

Despite what my fellow flightinfoers are telling you there is a very affordable option for insurance provided by CAL through Extend Benefits.

I was able to get coverage for my family of 3 for less than $250/month.

I don't have a number for you, but it should be in that pile of papers they gave you during basic indoc.

Best of luck HHH. CAL is not the dream job (one doesn't exists, I know because I've tried them all), but in my opinion it is as good or better than any other people pusher out there.

Welcome aboard and fly safe.

For the rest of you clowns....if you can't provide positive support to your pilot brethren then put a sock in it or PM Poccono.....

Hawg out.

Extend is affordable but it has a very high deductible and doesn't cover most "maintenance" type procedures. Still, it's better than nothing. Unless your wife is pregnant or you have some recurring health issues you should be able to get through the six months without much hassle. CAL also has clinics at all hubs that will see you (not your family) for free as well as provide some limited medication.

 

[LoneStar123]

BCBS web site.
Family of 3. less than $1000 for a 6 month SHORT TERM policy.
80/20 $1500 deductible.

 

[HHH]

Thanks for all the kind replies.

How do the deductibles work for a normal doctor's visit? You don't have to pay the $1500 deductible for a normal office visit do you?

Thanks again.

 

[minrest]

Once your insurance starts up, it's pretty good. My family of 4 (non-smokers) is $88 per month for medical coverage.

 

[ClubORD]

Although I think the 6 months w/out insurance is absolutely garbage, I will admit the insurance options are really good here at Continental. We pay less than $100/month for a great plan with Aetna.

 

[LoneStar123]

1500 deductible. They pay nothing until you pay that amount. A typical "i'm sick" doctors visit might be $200 bucks. So avoid the doctor if you can. If something serious happens then you are out $1500 up to your max out of pocket?? Chances are with a few minor doctor visits it will still come out less than if you where to pay $500 a month for better coverage.

 

[Pocono Pilot]

I'm going to go ahead and say it. I think you're full of crap. Give us some numbers on the new folks that have left. I'll bet you can count them on one hand, possibly two. And please don't feed us any lines of "yeah, well my buddy told me it was tons," or any other BS.

1. SWA - yeah possibly. They've been hiring pretty steady so I can understand if a few folks left for them. I also know a few that left B6 and prior DAL hires that have left for them as well. Touche.

2. UPS - maybe, probably not. They're hiring window has opened and closed within days the last couple of years. Very sketchy hiring to say the least.

3. FDX - again, probably not many at all. Same deal, their window has been closed for some time (and I'm very familiar with their act).

4. DAL - YGBSM. What a joke. I heard one guy left and a couple were thinking about it...and that was from a guy who knew a guy.

Spare us your rhetoric or provide us some factual data. If not, go join Pocono for a tea party or barbie doll dress up.

Will you still leave CAL for UPS or FedEx if they call like you said a few months ago?

Do you think you will have a better chance with UPS or FedEx if you get some instrument time?

 

[rtseatrich]

I don't know the exact numbers but it's gotten the attention of the company for sure. I personally know 4 that left for SWA. 2 had had 14 yrs of service!

I know a buddy that had his class date Moved up and was told it was due to people backing out class dates because they had class dates elsewhere.

This same new hire said numerous folks no showed the interview date as well.

Another new hire's class was told during indoc please leave now before we sink all this money into training you.

CAL types their 737 new hires. Ticket to SWA

CAL flies 757 across the pond. Apparently UPS has a strong desire to hire pilots with oceanic experience.

With a short staffed airline and sim time availability at a world wide low it's noticed when these folks bale.

 

[Scrapdog]

Will you still leave CAL for UPS or FedEx if they call like you said a few months ago?

Do you think you will have a better chance with UPS or FedEx if you get some instrument time?

1. Don't know.

2. Don't know.

 

[Scrapdog]

I don't know the exact numbers but it's gotten the attention of the company for sure. I personally know 4 that left for SWA. 2 had had 14 yrs of service!

I know a buddy that had his class date Moved up and was told it was due to people backing out class dates because they had class dates elsewhere.

This same new hire said numerous folks no showed the interview date as well.

Another new hire's class was told during indoc please leave now before we sink all this money into training you.

CAL types their 737 new hires. Ticket to SWA

CAL flies 757 across the pond. Apparently UPS has a strong desire to hire pilots with oceanic experience.

With a short staffed airline and sim time availability at a world wide low it's noticed when these folks bale.

Ok, copy all. You know 4 people personally. That's what I thought about the extent of your "thorough database" of guys jumping ship. I'd like to add my inputs if you will be so kind...

1. Getting your 737 type with CAL is in no way a "ticket to SWA." SWA has their own hiring practices and doesn't give 2 sh*ts if you came from CAL, DAL, or Korean Air. They like to hire folks that are a good all around package and have their type. They care absolutely 0% where their type came from. And they tend to like hiring quite a few military folks as well - that's been their standard for years.

2. UPS currently DOES NOT care about folks with transoceanic experience. They did try to fill that niche for a few months about a year or two ago, but that requirement is over. As a matter of fact, the last window that UPS opened specifically DID NOT have the prior transoceanic experiece as a pre-req. Any UPS folks can expand further if they please - that's my understanding from a buddy that flies with UPS currently. So once again, your logic is off.

3. I'm sure CAL notices when a guy jumps ship. Every company notices when a guy jumps ship early on, whether it be an airline or IBM. I can gaurantee you CAL is not going to go bankrupt because a couple of dudes leave. It's not desired, but it's part of doing business. I know 3 guys hired at DAL that left for FDX and one that left B6 for SWA. Guess what, they're all still in business. I know, baffling huh.

What else you got? If you're that dissapointed in CAL's business plan, they'll do just fine if you want to take a hike. Don't let the door hit you on the a$$. Pocono can easily give you an LOR for XJet. But since they just reported a 22 million loss for Q3, I'd say CAL is doing just fine - with or without you and your 4 buddies that moved on.

 

[ATRCA]

I'm going to go ahead and say it. I think you're full of crap. Give us some numbers on the new folks that have left. I'll bet you can count them on one hand, possibly two. And please don't feed us any lines of "yeah, well my buddy told me it was tons," or any other BS.

1. SWA - yeah possibly. They've been hiring pretty steady so I can understand if a few folks left for them. I also know a few that left B6 and prior DAL hires that have left for them as well. Touche.

2. UPS - maybe, probably not. They're hiring window has opened and closed within days the last couple of years. Very sketchy hiring to say the least.

3. FDX - again, probably not many at all. Same deal, their window has been closed for some time (and I'm very familiar with their act).

4. DAL - YGBSM. What a joke. I heard one guy left and a couple were thinking about it...and that was from a guy who knew a guy.

Spare us your rhetoric or provide us some factual data. If not, go join Pocono for a tea party or barbie doll dress up.

Not trying to start a bunch of $hit here but I JS'd the other day to IAH from MCO. The CA who is involved in hiring told me that CAL was losing close to 20% of some classes to UPS and SWA specifically. He made no mention of DAL or FDX(who is not hiring at the moment). He claimed that these guys were leaving "within" the 1st year.