Good thing SKYWEST doesn't have a union!!!

[buscap]

Here at ASA...

I could be wrong about union involvement, but the new medical plan is a clear violation of our contract...and now we get this memo...things that make you go hhhhmmmmm?

A couple of weeks ago I shared with you SkyWest, Inc.’s new health care strategy that would make the Definity HSA plan the only health care program available for ASA employees beginning 2012. As I’m sure you will agree, we could have done a better job of getting feedback from employees about the strategy prior to implementation. Since the announcement, we have received significant feedback about the need for ASA to continue offering an option for health care programs. As a result of that feedback I am working together with SkyWest, Inc. to come up with a go-forward strategy that does a better job of taking into consideration the concerns you have voiced.

Personally, I found nothing wrong with the new plan. For some folks with big families it was a shock and with a CBA in place, it was a non starter.

While I am not a flag-waving union type, I've always said not having a union in this industry is like living in a high crime area, without a gun in the house.

And if this good news trickles over to the Skywest side, like a few other things already have, you guys can say thanks by finding a way to bring back the moo-moo-cow in the ATL Moe's.

Tit for tat and all...

 

[Max Q]

What WAS everybody complaining about? From the looks of it, most people would be saving money across the board. I don't understand what the fuss was about.

Perhaps my reading comprehension has taken a swim in the bowl.

 

[buscap]

What WAS everybody complaining about? From the looks of it, most people would be saving money across the board. I don't understand what the fuss was about.

Perhaps my reading comprehension has taken a swim in the bowl.

Like you said, "most people." There are some folks for whom the math did not work out so well. And with a CBA in place, it should be negotiated, rather than crammed down our throats, even if it is as good change.

And like all "good" policies, it should be an easy sell...if it's so "good."

 

[Russ]

The second paragraph looks like something from your management, to whom is that attributable to?

 

[IBNAV8R]

The validity of topic initiator's point assumes his inference, as to the direction of the trickle, is correct.

In any case, we are not always going to be young, healthy and childless. Thank god my wife has a good plan.

 

[aerobat21]

i just got diagnosed with cancer, thank god i still have the ppo, without i would be defaulting on my bills and bankrupt...... the new plan will be a nightmare for anyone that gets slammed like i did.

 

[ASAFOE120]

The new plan has a max out of pocket of $6000 for a family. ASA puts in $1000 up front. If you have an adequate emergency fund ($5000) saved up, then this should not bankrupt you. Heck, after $2400, you only pay 20% till you get to the $6000 amount. However, if you don't have an emegency fund, and are living hand mouth, then you are on the edge and the wind is blowing.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Big D]

Don't forget the policy cap is one million dollars. Spend that much and you have no insurance. The deductable resets every January 1st. Thats ok if you don't have a family with many medical bills. If you have a severe illness that won't go away you are SCREWED.

 

[SpyFlysDOTs]

For those that are young and bulletproof, I hope you remain that way forever.

For those with a little more experience in life, you will realize that this deal ain't so sweet.

 

[gunfyter]

While I am not a flag-waving union type, I've always said not having a union in this industry is like living in a high crime area, without a gun in the house.
..

So true.

 

[crj567]

The new plan has a max out of pocket of $6000 for a family. ASA puts in $1000 up front. If you have an adequate emergency fund ($5000) saved up, then this should not bankrupt you. Heck, after $2400, you only pay 20% till you get to the $6000 amount. However, if you don't have an emegency fund, and are living hand mouth, then you are on the edge and the wind is blowing.

Best of luck to you.

I am pretty good with money. I have a good bit in the bank. My mortgage is reasonable, and I have no other debt whatsoever. That doesn't mean that I would feel good about spending so many thousands for a broken leg or an appendix operation. (Not to mention all the other crazy things life can throw at you at random.) God forbid you had some chronic health condition requiring ongoing treatment and/or medication.

Thanks for your award-winning financial advice, but I think I would like very much to avoid the risk of spending $6,000 per year on potential health issues. You can go ahead and hop right over-if that suits you, but I would like the option to not take such a huge finanial risk to save $40 per paycheck.

-Sincerely-I hope your health is good and your life is long... That would be the only way the new plan would ultimately prove cheaper.

-Good point about the union-people like SkyNation can have stuff like this imposed on them at any time Jerry wishes-with absolutely no recourse.

 

[sstearns2]

Don't forget the policy cap is one million dollars. Spend that much and you have no insurance. The deductable resets every January 1st. Thats ok if you don't have a family with many medical bills. If you have a severe illness that won't go away you are SCREWED.

Where did you get that the high deductible plan cap in 1 million?? I was told at the person at the benefits fair that it's 2 million. It's my understanding that once you hit the deductible you basically have the PPO plan.

Scott

 

[sweptback]

Where did you get that the high deductible plan cap in 1 million?? I was told at the person at the benefits fair that it's 2 million. It's my understanding that once you hit the deductible you basically have the PPO plan.

Scott

ASA has a $2 million cap in our contract.

 

[79%N1]

Thanks for your award-winning financial advice, but I think I would like very much to avoid the risk of spending $6,000 per year on potential health issues. You can go ahead and hop right over-if that suits you, but I would like the option to not take such a huge finanial risk to save $40 per paycheck.

The PPO also has a max pay per year of around $6,000. Do you not think that you can run up that much per year on the PPO? It's not all $20 copays on the ppo plan.

 

[buscap]

Whether or not the plan is a good one is not the point of this thread.

The point is that it is rather nice to have at least some recourse when actions such as these are "imposed" upon us.

Executives and other employees have individual contracts which must be respected. This is simply the same thing, negotiated on behalf of a group.

And to the pilots of Skywest, I would say this;

Yes, you have it good at your airline. And some of that "good" is simply a matter of a great boss who knows the old business axiom of "take care of your employees and they will take even better care of your customers"

However most of that "good" is a result of the rising tide effect of unions at other airlines and that same great boss's desire to keep a union off the property. When will all that run out? Who knows?

And while this one little issue of health insurance will not make or brake the issue, I would suggest it is something to keep in mind, next time a union question comes up.

 

[Speedtape]

HMMMMM--About every year the Insurance plan changes. Has abnyone ever known a time when it got beter, and not worse! This was not a good deal.

 

[MugsyMalone]

The 2 million cap is certainly better then 1 million lifetime cap.

 

[JumpersAway]

I can't believe the poor strategy used by Inc. on this. Here we (ASA) have a PBS vote coming up and many pilots are on the fense. However, many were thinking that this would be a livable move that would help the company for the long term. However, I can't tell you how many people I've spoken with that have used this new health care issue to down any hope of voting in PBS. Skywest Inc. really dropped the ball on this and used P.P. planning. Someone in St. George ought to be getting an @$$ chewing for their choice of timing on this- it's sorta funny, actually...........Seriously, could they have timed this any worse??????

 

[crj567]

Whether or not the plan is a good one is not the point of this thread.

The point is that it is rather nice to have at least some recourse when actions such as these are "imposed" upon us.

Executives and other employees have individual contracts which must be respected. This is simply the same thing, negotiated on behalf of a group.

And to the pilots of Skywest, I would say this;

Yes, you have it good at your airline. And some of that "good" is simply a matter of a great boss who knows the old business axiom of "take care of your employees and they will take even better care of your customers"

However most of that "good" is a result of the rising tide effect of unions at other airlines and that same great boss's desire to keep a union off the property. When will all that run out? Who knows?

And while this one little issue of health insurance will not make or brake the issue, I would suggest it is something to keep in mind, next time a union question comes up.

Excellent points!

 

[PBRstreetgang]

I can't believe the poor strategy used by Inc. on this. Here we (ASA) have a PBS vote coming up and many pilots are on the fense. However, many were thinking that this would be a livable move that would help the company for the long term. However, I can't tell you how many people I've spoken with that have used this new health care issue to down any hope of voting in PBS. Skywest Inc. really dropped the ball on this and used P.P. planning. Someone in St. George ought to be getting an @$$ chewing for their choice of timing on this- it's sorta funny, actually...........Seriously, could they have timed this any worse??????

Remember,
SKYW Inc. has been dealing with SKYW Airlines pilots, and as such think ALL pilots are as dumb as Inc. pilots. The bar has been set very low, garter snake low. If you guys buy off on any of the crap Inc. is dealing you are dumber than we are!
Think about it!
PBR

 

[Stifler's Mom]

I can't believe the poor strategy used by Inc. on this. Here we (ASA) have a PBS vote coming up and many pilots are on the fense. However, many were thinking that this would be a livable move that would help the company for the long term. However, I can't tell you how many people I've spoken with that have used this new health care issue to down any hope of voting in PBS. Skywest Inc. really dropped the ball on this and used P.P. planning. Someone in St. George ought to be getting an @$$ chewing for their choice of timing on this- it's sorta funny, actually...........Seriously, could they have timed this any worse??????

That's because when management says "jump", we don't say "how high?" What works for the SKW group doesn't work with the ASA group necessarily.

 

[Goose Egg]

I ended up sticking with the HMO for this year, because it really is the better health plan, and I have a penchant for "risky" hobbies. However, the CDHP is certainly a workable option. Basically, Inc. is requiring us to assume a greater amount of the financial risk of maintaining our health so it can continue to fully assume the financial risk of keeping us employed.

I'm not saying that I wouldn't rather be able to stick with the HMO indefinitely, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that Inc. is "dealing crap." It's a business decision, and nothing more... typical of the "real world."

 

[JoeMerchant]

And to the pilots of Skywest, I would say this;

Yes, you have it good at your airline. And some of that "good" is simply a matter of a great boss who knows the old business axiom of "take care of your employees and they will take even better care of your customers"

However most of that "good" is a result of the rising tide effect of unions at other airlines and that same great boss's desire to keep a union off the property. When will all that run out? Who knows?

And while this one little issue of health insurance will not make or brake the issue, I would suggest it is something to keep in mind, next time a union question comes up.

It's easy to lecture about the benefits of a union, but the facts don't back it up when you compare Skywest to many union represented regionals....In addition, I have never had so many ASA pilots ask me about how to get rid of ALPA as I have in the past few months...ALPA approval rating is at an all time low right now here at ASA...

The HSA issue is partly bad information/lack of information, and a result of the growing health care problem this country faces. Those of us on the conservative side of the aisle will need to bring forth solutions to keeping health care costs down, or we will get Obama/Pelosi care...It may be too late anyway and all of this may be a moot (or mute for the FI crowd) point.

Treating health care like any other cost, and treating health insurance like car insurance and home insurance would go a long way towards lowering health care costs overall....

 

[SkyNation]

this may be a moot (or mute for the FI crowd) point.

classic!

 

[FLYHY]

If you are healthy, the CDHP is fine. But if anything should happen, such as a broken bone or cancer as in a previous post, you will pay much more than it's worth. If you have a family and you are on the CDHP, your entire paycheck might as well go into the HSA just in case you need to take your kid to emergency room.

ASA - if SkyWest is slapping this on you, ALPA needs to make sure you get the PPO as your second option because not every pilot is rich enough to cover their medical expenses. And our health is the only thing we have in order to keep flying.

 

[79%N1]

If you are healthy, the CDHP is fine. But if anything should happen, such as a broken bone or cancer as in a previous post, you will pay much more than it's worth. If you have a family and you are on the CDHP, your entire paycheck might as well go into the HSA just in case you need to take your kid to emergency room.

.

No...you will not! This is just not true and is fear mongering at best! They BOTH have a max yearly payout of around $6,000 max per year. The difference is WHEN you pay out. The HSA has you pay more first, and then less once you reach your deductable of $1200/$2400. The maximum out of pocket expenses are about the same within a few hundred dollars, $6000 for CDHP and $6127 for the PPO. The big different is when the money comes out of your pocket. With the CDHP, the money comes out of your pocket up front, before the insurance kicks in. The PPO, the money comes out over the course of the whole year.


Couple that with the much lower monthly premiums and I can't see where all the guys yelling at the top of their lungs that this is such a raw deal and slap in the face are coming from. I am not sure yet whether or not I will switch, but I'm leaning towards it. How can it be such a shaft job by management if many people are voluntarily choosing it? Have any of you spent time researching it, reading the documents or talking to HR about it, or did you just read someone else complain and jump on the bandwagon? It simply is not that much more expensive - even if you break a bone or get ill. Also, the company will put in $1000 into your HSA to start paying toward that deductable Jan 1. Once you get $6,000 into your account you will have no health care costs that year. Wellness visits are copay just like the PPO. If you get sick or injured throughout the year, the costs will be relatively close on each plan. If you don't, the HSA long term is MUCH better. So, how is this such a screw job on you?

P.s I do certainly realize that some have chronic conditions that this plan at first would not be good for, but how many fit that description? But even they will pay out the same max costs yearly, just more out of pocket first.

 

[buscap]

It's easy to lecture about the benefits of a union, but the facts don't back it up when you compare Skywest to many union represented regionals....In addition, I have never had so many ASA pilots ask me about how to get rid of ALPA as I have in the past few months...ALPA approval rating is at an all time low right now here at ASA...

The HSA issue is partly bad information/lack of information, and a result of the growing health care problem this country faces. Those of us on the conservative side of the aisle will need to bring forth solutions to keeping health care costs down, or we will get Obama/Pelosi care...It may be too late anyway and all of this may be a moot (or mute for the FI crowd) point.

Treating health care like any other cost, and treating health insurance like car insurance and home insurance would go a long way towards lowering health care costs overall....

Joe,

You know darn-straight-skippy every word I typed is 100% correct. And I never mentioned ALPA. It was about Skywest and a union.

ALPA sucks. But not having ALPA sucks more. How's that?

 

[JoeMerchant]

No...you will not! This is just not true and is fear mongering at best! They BOTH have a max yearly payout of around $6,000 max per year. The difference is WHEN you pay out. The HSA has you pay more first, and then less once you reach your deductable of $1200/$2400. The maximum out of pocket expenses are about the same within a few hundred dollars, $6000 for CDHP and $6127 for the PPO. The big different is when the money comes out of your pocket. With the CDHP, the money comes out of your pocket up front, before the insurance kicks in. The PPO, the money comes out over the course of the whole year.


Couple that with the much lower monthly premiums and I can't see where all the guys yelling at the top of their lungs that this is such a raw deal and slap in the face are coming from. I am not sure yet whether or not I will switch, but I'm leaning towards it. How can it be such a shaft job by management if many people are voluntarily choosing it? Have any of you spent time researching it, reading the documents or talking to HR about it, or did you just read someone else complain and jump on the bandwagon? It simply is not that much more expensive - even if you break a bone or get ill. Also, the company will put in $1000 into your HSA to start paying toward that deductable Jan 1. Once you get $6,000 into your account you will have no health care costs that year. Wellness visits are copay just like the PPO. If you get sick or injured throughout the year, the costs will be relatively close on each plan. If you don't, the HSA long term is MUCH better. So, how is this such a screw job on you?

P.s I do certainly realize that some have chronic conditions that this plan at first would not be good for, but how many fit that description? But even they will pay out the same max costs yearly, just more out of pocket first.

Well said! Facts are a funny thing.....

The longer you are in it without tapping into the HSA, the more sense it makes. I have about $9000 in my HSA and the most I have to pay out of pocket per year is far less than that....plus I pay far less in premiums....Good deal for many...Not as good for some.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Joe,

You know darn-straight-skippy every word I typed is 100% correct. And I never mentioned ALPA. It was about Skywest and a union.

ALPA sucks. But not having ALPA sucks more. How's that?

If voting in a union means Jerry starts treating the Skywest pilots more like other pilot groups get treated....Is it still a good thing?

Even you admit ALPA sucks....Why on earth would someone risk one of the best employee/management relations for something that us members admit sucks? I don't get it....

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Democracy is the worst form of govt.... but still better than everything else out there