CAL insurance problem

[padusmaximus]

I start class in a couple of weeks and I've hit a brick wall trying to get health insurance for the fam. My wife is pregnant so no one will give us insurance except COBRA of course which is 800$ monthly. Any suggestions from you new hires? Please refrain from the obvious choices which include, "grab your ankles" or "go to Fedex".

Thanks for the help.

 

[RSRVWINDSURFR]

Unfortunately, you've pretty much answered your own question. Due to my wife's health, nobody would cover us either, so COBRA it was. Almost $900 a month.

 

[flaps30]

here you go

I also had a hard time finding insurance for the family when I was furloughed. My wife got a job at a local bank so we would have coverage then the doc put her on bed rest, full medical coverage and paid long/short term disability. They can't ask you if you are preggers when they hire you, and their insurance covered everything. She had no intention of staying, now 10 years later she's VP of marketing and makes five times what I do. Plus the other benefits of having a 20 year old Brazilian spanker as a nanny, and some Alice like lady from Ecuador who cooks and cleans but doesn't speak a lick of English.
Funny how things work out sometimes.

 

[TexFlyer]

I don't know if you will fall into this category or not. There is a lot of red tape and piss you off but...
You might qualify for Medicaid, WIC (for sure), and welfare. It was the best insurance I ever had (2003, Florida), except for choosing only certain docs. Since your wife is pregnant she should automatically be covered. It just sucks knowing that you have to go in that line after what you have already sacrificed. If you don't qualify for welfare, I know for sure WIC (free milk, eggs, peanut butter, beans, cheese) and fairly sure of Medicaid. Just find your state's office. Who knows, probably in about six month's or so I'll be seeing you there unless something else happens. Oh well here I go again. So freaking ridiculous.

 

[On Your Six]

How long is the wait for insurance coverage - 6 months? Stupid question, but can you can partial coverage for the remainder of the term? I never fully understood these things.

Good luck.

 

[Flybywire44]

Someone in CAL flight ops should read this thread and do something to help you guys.

 

[turbinej]

check your local state they may have a program to cover the cost for your wife and child only through medicade. When I went to Cal I did temp insurance for my wife and I and put my kids under MI healthcare program BCBS for $5 a month 100% coverage. You might just have to buy regular insurance not temp insurance, which is cheaper than Cobra, You might pay $300 dollars a month. Get temp insurance for you and regular insurance for your wife through BCBS or something similar.

 

[GuppyWN]

Medicare and welfare. Aint exactly what I dreamed of flying for a major airline.

Sucks dude. Hope you find a solution that's tolerable.

Gup

 

[WTF-Over]

Your wife's pregnant....You jump ship from a place that gives you medical....And go to work for someone that offers No medical.......PRICELESS!!!!!!

 

[pkober]

I also had a hard time finding insurance for the family when I was furloughed. My wife got a job at a local bank so we would have coverage then the doc put her on bed rest, full medical coverage and paid long/short term disability. They can't ask you if you are preggers when they hire you, and their insurance covered everything. She had no intention of staying, now 10 years later she's VP of marketing and makes five times what I do. Plus the other benefits of having a 20 year old Brazilian spanker as a nanny, and some Alice like lady from Ecuador who cooks and cleans but doesn't speak a lick of English.
Funny how things work out sometimes.

Any pix of Alice?:laugh:

 

[pkober]

Call CAL benefits and get the number for "Extend Benefits". They provide insurance during our BS 6 months waiting period.

If in the military. One way around this is to do a OEF/OIF/Noble Eagle tour >30 days. That will provide Tricare for 6 months. I was lucky and came off a tour 2 days before I started at CAL.

On a side note.

To all of you that are new here at CAL. Don't forget your first year here when it comes time for the next contract. Don't vote for a contract that won't pay at least $50/hr with day one insurance for newhires. That will be the first place I will look. If those two are not met I will not vote yes. We have strenght in numbers. The senior guys don't care about our plite (sp.). Only we can influance the outcome. We payed our dues.

 

[av8tor4239]

curious why you are going to work for a company that puts you and your families health at risk? If you were independantly wealthy and you want to work there is one thing, but to put your pregnant wife in a situation where she has to eat governmnet cheese while pregnant is not very smart.

Correct me if I am wrong, but at 30 bucks an hour your paychecks will be be about 600-700 bucks every two weeks..

COBRA $800/month
your income $1200/month

Even though you dont want to hear it, you are in no position to be taking a job at CAL right now.. Sorry

 

[Jonny Sacko]

I think, for 6 months you can live off credit cards if you need. It's the big picture. Do you want to work for the majors as they are today, or hold out till things improve, or forget it all together? It's all up to you.

 

[Lebowski]

First of all, congratulations on the baby-to-be and getting hired at CAL. Here's some info that may help you.

I recently changed airlines, too (not to CAL, but I had a roughly two-month wait for bennies). My wife is also pregnant. COBRA was the only option for us. Full coverage for the family would have cost around $900/mo. However, we ended up paying something like $230 a month for my wife only to be covered.

By talking to the benefits dept. at the company I was leaving, I learned two valuable bits of information about how COBRA works.

1. You can enroll a SINGLE family member (i.e., your wife, but not you) in COBRA even if your whole family had been covered during your employment.

2. You can (and should) enroll in COBRA retroactively. I think you have something like a 60 day grace period, maybe a little longer (obviously check the exact timeline with your benefits dept.) from your termination date to sign up for COBRA. During that time, you can use the benefits that you've had. But, if you do use them for something that can wait until your new bennies kick in, then you'll be throwing away money on those huge premiums once you start sending in those COBRA checks. So, you really would only want your wife to use the benefits if possible (i.e, unless you were really sick or were badly injured; then, obviously, it would be worth the $900 or so to retroactively enroll the whole family). Just don't forget to send in your first COBRA check by the deadline.

I hope this info is helpful to you. It's sickening that so many companies make you wait for such a fundamental benefit. Situations like this give firepower to arguments in favor of universal healthcare. It's obviously not just homeless or irresponsible people who can't afford healthcare. I struggled to pay for a mortgage, health coverage, and also invest in a 401(k) on regional pay. I worked hard, and have been entirely self-sufficient. If you want to make a change to CAL from the regionals, it's quite easy to find yourself in a position with NO benefits for a significant time after already sacraficing for years with the hope of one day getting the big opportunity.

It's self evident that in this profession, we don't control the timing of opportunities and we can't precisely time when a pregnancy may occur. We have to take these opportunities when they come. The problem is that CAL is obviously a good long term opportunity, but unless you have a rich uncle to turn to, going there can create a hardship for the person getting hired.

I suspect that anyone who is critical of a person for changing companies while the wife is pregnant haven't had to fight for much in this life. It's not easy when you have to fend yourself at a regional, and then get slapped in the face when trying to advance your career at a major.

Good luck at CAL. Congratulations again.

 

[xtwapilot]

I think, for 6 months you can live off credit cards if you need. It's the big picture. Do you want to work for the majors as they are today, or hold out till things improve, or forget it all together? It's all up to you.

It attitudes like your's that have destroyed the industry.
Senior CAL pilots should be ashamed of themselves for accepting the type of pay and medical for first year pilots in their contract. In an industry where a dispatcher can start at 30K after completing a 6 week course, yet pilots are still under some dilusion that during the first few years at a major, one has to still pay their dues. Simply disgusting, every CAL should be ashamed for putting their first year guys through this.
As for the guys that accept a job under these conditions, shame on you. Especially this guy that has a wife with a baby due but knowingly put his family through this kind of rubbish.

 

[Guitar Guy]

Why does CAL require new-hires to wait 6 months to get coverage? Is it some sort of cost-cutting effort by the company?

 

[CAL EWR B737]

On a side note.

To all of you that are new here at CAL. Don't forget your first year here when it comes time for the next contract. Don't vote for a contract that won't pay at least $50/hr with day one insurance for newhires. That will be the first place I will look. If those two are not met I will not vote yes. We have strenght in numbers. The senior guys don't care about our plite (sp.). Only we can influance the outcome. We payed our dues.

I want to echo pkober's comments. I will not vote yes on any TA that at least meets the minimum criteria above and hopefully it is more.

However I think a better tactic to some of more selfish individuals (and I think it's just some not all of our senior pilots who are selfish and only care about themselves) How about we the new hires (will make up almost 50% of the pilot group by the time this contract is negotiated) save and fix your retirement (instead of negotiating it away we can try to do that since a union supposed to represent the interests of the majority) and you the senior pilots help us fix pay for years 2 through 6 (FO) and 1rst year pay and insurance issues. I believe you can motivate most if you state it my way vs your way.

I am truly embarrassed of our POS contract and I apologize to every new hire I meet.

As a side note I hope to meet many of you new hires shortly in a class that I am designing and I will teach to all new hires who want to attend.

Our budget was just approved at last weeks CAL ALPA MEC meeting.

My class will be available to all new hires in EWR (eventually all bases new hires are assigned) after you complete IOE. The class will be six to eight hours and will cover:

CAL History
CAL UNION History
ALPA 101 - Structure of CAL ALPA and National - Railway Labor Act -
Contract Negotiations/SPSC
CCS (Continentals Crew Computer system that most new hires get no instruction from the company on)
Etc...

Fraternally,

Jayson Baron
EWR B756 CA
CAL ALPA Strike Preparedness Committee Chairman
CAL ALPA Membership Committee member


PS lets fix per diem I kid you not I just converted $10 dollars to British pounds for pocket change and the bank lady was going to give me 2.43 pounds. After I protested (she must felt sorry for me) she eliminated the bank charges and gave me 4.35 pounds. That is exactly what I got for my $10 pocket change.

 

[padusmaximus]

I appreciate the responses and even the harassment folks. It is helpful to me and will be helpful for the next newhire that's in my shoes. I'll look into all of the suggestions that people presented.
For those out there that think i'm crazy for taking the job, I don't blame you, but I don't agree. One year is a short amount of time. The pay at other majors, with the exception of a few, is just as crappy as CAL. So really the only issue is insurance. I wish they offered it, but they don't, so i'll buy it. I'm not putting the fam at risk because I will get insurance one way or the other. It is an expense that I wish I didn't have to inccur, but as I said before its short term. When I was choosing an airline to go to I wasn't just looking at the first year pay. I was looking at where I might be in 10, 15, 20 years. I believe CAL is the most stable legacy carrier out there right now, of course that can change but I have to take that risk. Staying at my regional airline surely is not the answer, nor is going to a major that gives you insurance right away but has a 12 year upgrade. Bottom line I think CAL, despite the first year, is still the best place to go for me. I'm 32, this year will suck, but I hopefully will be at CAL for a long time and i'm confident that it will pay off. My wife agrees.
I apologize that this post has turned into a CAL bashing session. That was not my intention. I'm not looking for sympathy either. I'm excited about the job and appreciate the opportunity to work there. I was simply looking for some insight on some insurance options from people who have been in my shoes.
Thanks for the ideas and for the discussion.

 

[Allen1]

I think, for 6 months you can live off credit cards if you need. It's the big picture. Do you want to work for the majors as they are today, or hold out till things improve, or forget it all together? It's all up to you.

Worst advice I ever heard. 6 months living off of credit cards and then spending the next 20 years of your life paying them off. Real good advice.

 

[whatitdoing?]

It's better than taking money out of your 401K.

 

[Jonny Sacko]

Worst advice I ever heard. 6 months living off of credit cards and then spending the next 20 years of your life paying them off. Real good advice.

Oh ya, your right. I forgot.

TO ALL CONTINENTAL NEW HIRES!!

YOU WILL NOT BE PAID FOR 5 YEARS, FROM NEW HIRE DATE. YOU ARE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE A MANSION ON THE JERSEY SHORE WITHIN 3 DAYS OF CLASS START! YOU ALSO MUST, YES THAT'S MUST, LIVE LIKE MILLIONAIRES IE... NO DINING AT YOUR HOUSE. ALWAYS EAT OUT, AND SAVE RECEIPTS FOR NO REASON AT ALL. MAKE SURE YOU DRIVE LIKE YOU JUST PURCHASED YOUR FIRST SPORTS CAR ALWAYS!! ANOTHER REQUIREMENT; THE BUTLER! HE MUST TAYLOR YOUR SUITS BEFORE EACH LEG OF THE FLIGHT, NOT THE TRIP, YOU CHEAP BASTARDS, EACH LEG. IF THERE IS A BLEMISH, GET IT FIXED.

THAT WILL BE ALL.

6 months without insurance WILL BE FIXED, what will your excuse be then?? I love my RJ.

 

[pkober]

Padus,

Welcome aboard. You've got a good attitude. Remember your first year because you will be able to influence the next contract.

Good luck.

 

[FlyByNight1]

first let me say congrats on the baby!! Then let me say ooooouuuuccccchhhhhh!!!! Thats a tough spot to be in. I think that most states cover the monthly visits for pregnancies - or it could be on the federal level, I cant remember. However, you might be in better shape than you think. If your wife doesnt work, then you can claim CAL first year pay as your household income and probably get the best healthcare available. The previous post were right on though, I'll bet its a lot of red tape. Thats just one more kick in the pants before you reach your career finish line. Good luck my friend, we're pullin for ya!

 

[Bigoober]

Wow, what a bunch of hypocrisy. Might as well tell him "Shame on you for becoming a pilot!" Everything has risk in life. We just accept a little more in this profession.

As shown above, there are things that you can do to bridge this gap. I will be facing the same thing soon enough with a 4 month old trying to gap about two months of insurance. Fortunately, I have been planning on the pay tranistion for years now and have a nice sum of money saved up (yep, that old fashioned way of doing things is still alive in some of us).

pkover, I'm with you. Don't see a yes vote out of me unless those two requirements are in there at least. Loud and clear.

 

[tindriver72]

Padus, I Agree with pkober. You've got a great attitude and welcome aboard!! It's no secret that there are things that need to be fixed in the contract over here. That first year is tight, to say the least, (mines up in 2 weeks!!). That first year aside, you'll love it here!!

Congrats on the baby!

 

[av8tor4239]

I am sorry that you are CHOOSING to go through what you are about to have to go through, but I only have one thing to say....

GOVERNMENT CHEESE IS FREAKING GOOD

 

[BOHICAgain]

Where is Pokono??

 

[Guam360]

Any pix of Alice?:laugh:

Alice????

How about the Brasilian nanny???!!!!

 

[lostplnetairman]

I start class in a couple of weeks and I've hit a brick wall trying to get health insurance for the fam. My wife is pregnant so no one will give us insurance except COBRA of course which is 800$ monthly. Any suggestions from you new hires? Please refrain from the obvious choices which include, "grab your ankles" or "go to Fedex".

Thanks for the help.

Everyone has independent COBRA election rights. Just have your wife elect COBRA as a single person. Then the rest of you can get coverage elsewhere.

HRDiva

 

[737 Pylt]

Worst advice I ever heard. 6 months living off of credit cards and then spending the next 20 years of your life paying them off. Real good advice.

Why don't you stick to things you're good at, like servicing lavs, and carrying bags....Dumbass!:laugh:

737