ASA insurance... cost rising again!

[PCL_128]

NetJets cost for medical insurance to employees.......$0.00

Exactly! There's no reason that profitable companies like ASA, Mesaba, and AirTran need to stiff their employees with such ridiculous health care costs. TOOL CRIB, this is not a trivial issue, and you shouldn't apologize for these idiots in management trying to rip you off. If NetJets, a company that has only recently become profitable for the parent corporation, can afford to pay 100% of the cost of health insurance, then I think companies that have been wildly profitable for years can at least not raise the premiums and copays.

 

[TOOL CRIB]

Exactly! There's no reason that profitable companies like ASA, Mesaba, and AirTran need to stiff their employees with such ridiculous health care costs. TOOL CRIB, this is not a trivial issue, and you shouldn't apologize for these idiots in management trying to rip you off. If NetJets, a company that has only recently become profitable for the parent corporation, can afford to pay 100% of the cost of health insurance, then I think companies that have been wildly profitable for years can at least not raise the premiums and copays.

So you're saying all profitable companies should pay 100% health care costs while non-profitable companies shouldn't? It's broad rationalizations like this that make many pilot groups susceptible to the bad qualities of groupthink.

Airlines are learning to become and remain profitable on razor-thin margins. Should they charge copays one quarter because they lost money, and then not charge copays the next quarter when they turn a profit? Sure, sounds good to me too, but the truth is that would wind up costing additional money to the health care system and total costs would probably rise.

I wouldn't say I'm apologizing for management (which is impossible in some cases), I'm just saying it's ok to look at it from both sides to get the big picture. A lot of union workers automatically think "mgmt=bad" and it's not always the case in every situation. Look at Detroit and the Big 3 automakers and ask them about rising health care costs, then get back to me.

 

[PCL_128]

So you're saying all profitable companies should pay 100% health care costs while non-profitable companies shouldn't?

No, I think all companies should pay 100% health care costs, period.

 

[Gator1999]

NetJets cost for medical insurance to employees.......$0.00

Yeah, but NetJets doesn't have any pass benefits or jumpseat agreements and that is worth so much more than family health insurance...right john?

 

[CFI2766]

Yeah, but NetJets doesn't have any pass benefits or jumpseat agreements and that is worth so much more than family health insurance...right john?

JP brings up something that is important to many ASA pilots, and the best you can do is ridicule him for it?

Get a life.

All companies have certain costs to bear. Some companies value their employees and want to see them as healthy, productive members of the team. Other companies value their profit margins and see employees as detractors from the bottom line.

Enjoyed the LSU game this weekend...let me see, how did that turn out? :laugh:

 

[regionalcap]

Ask SWA or DAL employees, I bet their health care costs went up too.

Actually, the cost at DAL is the same next year. It always seem like I got a raise every year at ASA that was offset by the increasing insurance premium. They basically cancelled each other out.

 

[wms]

Our insurance rates are negotiated by the same guy that negotiated our new travel benfeits.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Don't worry, President Hillary is going to make health care "free" for everyone.....

 

[shamrock]

Airlines are learning to become and remain profitable on razor-thin margins. Should they charge copays one quarter because they lost money, and then not charge copays the next quarter when they turn a profit?

They should charge the customers what it costs to provide the service and not take it out of the hides of the employees.

 

[USCtrojan]

BOHICA, ASA pilots. 2008 insurance info is out on ourasa if you dig for it.

Looks like copays are going up to $20 per doctor visit now. It will be $25 for chiropractic.

Prescriptions will now be $10/$25/$40. Of course, 90% of prescriptions are in the highest group. And now there's an "out of network" option where the costs are going to be $25/$50/$80. So much for going to the corner drugstore. Of course you can use their mail order plan for $20/$50/$80 if you don't live near one of their sanctioned drugstores (which I'm sure most of us won't).

Annual out of pocket max:$2150 individual, $6450 family for in network, and $3250/$9750 out of network. Hope your savings are good if anything major happens.

Deductibles (what we have to pay before labs and other procedures are covered): $300 individual. $600 family.

And finally, plan costs:
Individual: $69/month
2-party: $168.50/month
Family: $277/month.

And get this. As for dental, only 50% coverage for "major procedures" including fillings! Yearly cap: $1500. But we do now have orthodontia coverage... at a "whopping" 50%, $750 per year, lifetime $1500. Great when braces cost about $5,000.

Looks like they're sticking it to us again. Keep this in mind when you vote on that new contract. ASA giveth, and ASA taketh away.

John,

I'm confused at your logic. Please help. You're a self proclaimed Socialist. Okay, I get that. Now you're complaining because the cost of our HealthCare is rising. We need to take care of some of our less fortunate that are older and out of shape. (to be quite frank). If you are indeed a Socialist, shouldn't this be in YOUR best interest? I mean pay a little more to help everyone else? Just a little clarification needed. Thanx in advance.

Trojan