ASA Insurance Plan debacle!!!

[outtahere]

How about instead of getting nothing for PBS but a nice stiff one up the tailpipe, our good for nothing union leaders negotiate some form of PPO for pilots after 2012 when Skywest inc. goes over to the good for the company plan that has us pay all of our medical expenses out of pocket. Thats freakin' horse$hit for those of us with kids. Sure if you never get sick its a great deal, but then I guess you wouldn't need insurance at all.

 

[OCP]

Per our contract they can't take us off of the current plan we have, unless it is negotiated away.

 

[Cpt Oveur]

Put this on the union web board, don't clog FI with this...

 

[Metro752]

Neeed moar asa threads!

 

[Freebrd]

Whaaatttt! Another damn ASA thread??? :nuts:

 

[crj567]

Put this on the union web board, don't clog FI with this...

We didn't clog your mom with another FI thread, so just count the old bag lucky!

-Gen Lee's mom only wishes she were so lucky!

 

[outtahere]

Well unfortunately no one else is as exciting as ASA. Let's hope our union leaders don't sell us out with insurance like they are trying to do with PBS.

 

[USCtrojan]

How about instead of getting nothing for PBS but a nice stiff one up the tailpipe, our good for nothing union leaders negotiate some form of PPO for pilots after 2012 when Skywest inc. goes over to the good for the company plan that has us pay all of our medical expenses out of pocket. Thats freakin' horse$hit for those of us with kids. Sure if you never get sick its a great deal, but then I guess you wouldn't need insurance at all.

What do you care? ASA, according to you is gonna be gone anyways, so what are you complaining about?

Trojan

 

[LazyLightnin']

What do you care? ASA, according to you is gonna be gone anyways, so what are you complaining about?

Trojan

Oh yeah.. that's right. The guy with a hundred personalities.

*Skywest is taking over ASA
*ASA is doing better than ever, thanks to Skywest.
*Thanks a lot ASA, you a-holes.
*No seriously, thanks a lot ASA. Keep up the good work.

Which is it today? Tomorrow will be "Wow! how awesome is this preferential bidding stuff?"

 

[crj567]

This is gonna get interesting-apparently, the contract specifically forbids changes like this without union approval. I just got an email from the MEC, and apparently, they don't approve at all.

-The timing is very interesting. I wonder why mgmt. didn't just wait a few months. I am sure the pilot group would have passed PBS "to make us more attractive to other mainline partners," but now-mgmt. has sure pissed off a lot of folks. I am beginning to think people are gonna get real torqued over this B.S., and perhaps PBS will have a harder time penetrating our two-hole.

 

[JoeMerchant]

There is already a $2000 difference in the premiums between the HSA/High Deduct. and the PPO...If the union wins, just look for the PPO premiums to continue to rise.

Looking at the family plan, you are in the hole by $3000 the first year before any doctor visit.

 

[OCP]

There is already a $2000 difference in the premiums between the HSA/High Deduct. and the PPO...If the union wins, just look for the PPO premiums to continue to rise.

Looking at the family plan, you are in the hole by $3000 the first year before any doctor visit.

IF!!! You hardly need medical. What if your new born isn't well, and now you need meds for a long time? What if a med you are on is expensive and works well, but now you have to pay full price for it and can't afford it? You run through that massive savings that this great plan allows.
After you now pay WAY more out of pocket than you would have ever on the PPO you now still have to pay 20% of what is left. How is that good?

 

[Oakum_Boy]

It's not good! Put it this way: if the company wants it, it's not a better plan. Your out-of-pocket is capped at $6,000, plus the $2400. If my math is fuzzy, please correct but the family deductible with the PPO is only $600. Big difference. Then hope nothing else happens before your HSA is full again which might take a little while. Repeat as necessary...

 

[jegermeister]

Sounds like the public option, maybe a better option.

 

[JoeMerchant]

It's not good! Put it this way: if the company wants it, it's not a better plan. Your out-of-pocket is capped at $6,000, plus the $2400. If my math is fuzzy, please correct but the family deductible with the PPO is only $600. Big difference. Then hope nothing else happens before your HSA is full again which might take a little while. Repeat as necessary...

Your math is fuzzier than the CBO....

The HSA/High Deduct. plan has a LOWER annual cap than the PPO...It is $6000 TOTAL. The PPO has an annual cap of $6450, plus costs $2000 MORE....If you have a bad year, the PPO COULD cost you almost $2500 MORE than the PPO. Add in the $1000 of seed money, and the difference could be $3500 MORE for the PPO....That is worst case...

Again, the HSA works BETTER for people who don't go to the doctor much, or for those who have many problems....The numbers don't work as well for those in the middle...

Another factor to consider is that the PPO premiums will increase faster than the HSA premiums and at some point it will make more sense to join the HSA. At that point, the company probably won't be putting in the $1000 of seed money.

Just like PBS...Don't dismiss it without getting ALL of the facts...

 

[JoeMerchant]

Sounds like the public option, maybe a better option.

I wouldn't trade my HSA for the public option for anything....

 

[pianoman]

I have had a sister with leukemia, and a grandmother with cancer. The bills are astronomical, and the HSA, while a great supplement, won't cover a fraction of the cost. You'll be living in a van down by the river eating out of a dumpster.

Newsflash: yes, it's great to take care of yourself. But things still happen. And anyone with a family knows that kids get sick, break things, and have mishaps.

 

[JoeMerchant]

I have had a sister with leukemia, and a grandmother with cancer. The bills are astronomical, and the HSA, while a great supplement, won't cover a fraction of the cost. You'll be living in a van down by the river eating out of a dumpster.

Newsflash: yes, it's great to take care of yourself. But things still happen. And anyone with a family knows that kids get sick, break things, and have mishaps.

The PPO would cost you about $2500 more a year in your example...Once you hit $6000, the HSA insurance plan picks up 100%...Read the plan before making bad assumptions....

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Prescriptions covered? NOPE. I'm pretty sure most of us have no clue how expensive meds are. Could be hundreds of dollars per month depending on the affliction. If they extended the prescription coverage to the CDHP, I might consider it.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Prescriptions covered? NOPE. I'm pretty sure most of us have no clue how expensive meds are. Could be hundreds of dollars per month depending on the affliction. If they extended the prescription coverage to the CDHP, I might consider it.

WRONG! You pay 100% up to the deductible, then you pay 20%...That amount also goes to the max. annual out of pocket which again is LOWER than the PPO.

Just like PBS, bad information is being spread without studying it....

 

[ASAFOE120]

So if I read this correct, we will pay $2400 out of pocket for prescriptions, DR visits, etc before any ins kicks in. Then, ins will pay 80% and we pay 20% till reaching $6000 (that includes the $2400) which is max out of pocket. Then ins pays 100% thereafter. Is this correct????

If so, then as long as you've got $6000 in your emergency fund, then no worries. I know its more out of pocket then what we are used to, but on the other hand, if your family is relatively healthy and you keep your emergeny fund at $6000, couldnt this save a family money by having less taken out of a paycheck?

Just wondering if I'm reading this right.

Blessed

 

[JoeMerchant]

So if I read this correct, we will pay $2400 out of pocket for prescriptions, DR visits, etc before any ins kicks in. Then, ins will pay 80% and we pay 20% till reaching $6000 (that includes the $2400) which is max out of pocket. Then ins pays 100% thereafter. Is this correct????

If so, then as long as you've got $6000 in your emergency fund, then no worries. I know its more out of pocket then what we are used to, but on the other hand, if your family is relatively healthy and you keep your emergeny fund at $6000, couldnt this save a family money by having less taken out of a paycheck?

Just wondering if I'm reading this right.

Blessed

That's correct. Keep in mind that the PPO costs you $2000 more in premiums. Add in the $1000 that ASA puts in, and you have to get to $3000 in health care costs to make the PPO better. Then if you have a lot of health care costs, the PPO could actually cost you MORE out of pocket.

Meeting the deductible is almost covered by the lower premiums.

 

[OCP]

So Skywest isn't offering any kind of match or money toward your deductible right? Other than $500 for the next 2 years. In talking with my family my mom works in a Hallmark store and they pay her deductible into her HSA every year. So where is that for us?

 

[jonjuan]

So if I read this correct, we will pay $2400 out of pocket for prescriptions, DR visits, etc before any ins kicks in. Then, ins will pay 80% and we pay 20% till reaching $6000 (that includes the $2400) which is max out of pocket. Then ins pays 100% thereafter. Is this correct????

If so, then as long as you've got $6000 in your emergency fund, then no worries. I know its more out of pocket then what we are used to, but on the other hand, if your family is relatively healthy and you keep your emergeny fund at $6000, couldnt this save a family money by having less taken out of a paycheck?

Just wondering if I'm reading this right.

Blessed

That's correct. My wife has had an HSA high deductible plan for 3 years. The company puts in $1,500/year, we put in $3,000/year. We are healthy and use very little of the money (knock on wood), and have the majority of the balance ($15,000) in one of the mutual funds offered. We hope to be relatively healthy and have a $100K balance in 20 years to be used for medical expenses. After you reach 65, you can also transfer the HSA balance to an IRA.
http://www.health--savings--accounts.com/article-19.htm

http://www.medplanaccess.com/hsa/overview.htm

 

[JoeMerchant]

So Skywest isn't offering any kind of match or money toward your deductible right? Other than $500 for the next 2 years. In talking with my family my mom works in a Hallmark store and they pay her deductible into her HSA every year. So where is that for us?

ASA is kicking in $500 for single, or $1000 for family. The deductible is $2400 (family), but keep in mind the PPO premiums will cost you $2000 more. Essentially, you are starting the year off about $3000 in the hole by choosing the PPO for the next two years. After you spend $3000, the PPO is better UNTIL you get to $6000, then the HSA is better again....

Clear as mud?

 

[JoeMerchant]

That's correct. My wife has had an HSA high deductible plan for 3 years. The company puts in $1,500/year, we put in $3,000/year. We are healthy and use very little of the money (knock on wood), and have the majority of the balance ($15,000) in one of the mutual funds offered. We hope to be relatively healthy and have a $100K balance in 20 years to be used for medical expenses. After you reach 65, you can also transfer the HSA balance to an IRA.
http://www.health--savings--accounts.com/article-19.htm

http://www.medplanaccess.com/hsa/overview.htm

Good job. The nice thing now is that you have that money available to buy COBRA or other health insurance if you lose your job....It provides a very nice safety blanket....Much better than relying on Washington DC.....

 

[OCP]

ASA is kicking in $500 for single, or $1000 for family. The deductible is $2400 (family), but keep in mind the PPO premiums will cost you $2000 more. Essentially, you are starting the year off about $3000 in the hole by choosing the PPO for the next two years. After you spend $3000, the PPO is better UNTIL you get to $6000, then the HSA is better again....

Clear as mud?

I read that they will supply the money, but they make it known that its a "one time cash incentive". After 2012 no more from them?

 

[outtahere]

The problem with the CDHP and kids, is that you will hit the 2400 in no time. With three kids, we go to the Dr. alot! I'd rather pay the higher premiums, it will cost me less out of pocket. If it were just me and my wife though, it would be a great deal. Sounds like the company is going to have to keep our PPO anyway due to our contract, but they will still be able to reduce costs by signing up more people to the CDHP. Now if the company was putting the full deductable into our account EVERY year, then that would be a different story. Guess they'll have to decide whats better for them in the long run. Just like PBS, sweeten the deal enough, and anythings possible.

 

[JoeMerchant]

The problem with the CDHP and kids, is that you will hit the 2400 in no time. With three kids, we go to the Dr. alot! I'd rather pay the higher premiums, it will cost me less out of pocket. If it were just me and my wife though, it would be a great deal. Sounds like the company is going to have to keep our PPO anyway due to our contract, but they will still be able to reduce costs by signing up more people to the CDHP. Now if the company was putting the full deductable into our account EVERY year, then that would be a different story. Guess they'll have to decide whats better for them in the long run. Just like PBS, sweeten the deal enough, and anythings possible.

Outtahere...How much do you figure you spend on copays and deductibles with the PPO per year? Knowing that number helps when crunching the numbers.

 

[ASAFOE120]

Thanks for all the info. One more question. Is our dental ins on this same plan? In other words, will the cost of dental visits come out of pocket and count towards the $2400 deductible or is that plan separate?