Flexed Over Benefits

[AAmech]

[blockquote]
----------------
On 12/22/2002 6:12:12 PM RV4 wrote:

I hear some folks are already finding out about the new flexed over prescription drug policy.

Guy from worked called, said his son was tested positive for the FLU and the insurance wont cover prescribed medication. "TAMAFLU"

$160.00 out-of-pocket...

Merry Christmas from AA and the TWU.
----------------
[/blockquote]

I'm not surprised they won't cover Tamaflu. It does next to nothing for a flu. At best it shaves a day off the down time. Its just something for the DR. to prescribe to placate patients who don't want to hear the truth, "bed rest and lots of fluids". I bet your friend will spend $6.00 next year on a flu shot.
BTW KC, Our cheapest plan at AA (which I'm on) cost a whopping $30.00 a month w/prescriptions included for me AND my wife. And people complain around here!

 

[WingNaPrayer]

[P]
[BLOCKQUOTE][BR]----------------[BR]On 12/23/2002 8:33:53 PM [STRONG]TWAnr[/STRONG] [EM]spewed:[/EM]
[P]
[P class=MsoNormal 0pt" 0in][FONT face=Arial color=#000000]For someone who claims to be just a customer, WingNaPrayer certainly takes an unnatural interest in these issues of employees' retirement pre-funding and health and prescription drugs insurance benefits.[/FONT][/P]----------------[/BLOCKQUOTE]
[P]Disgruntled employees are not [EM]productive[/EM] employees, and [EM]that[/EM] affects the bottom line....what [EM]all [/EM]investors are interested in. But then, you bankruptcy babies wouldn't know anything about the bottom line now would you.[/P]

 

[WingNaPrayer]

[P]
[BLOCKQUOTE][BR]----------------[BR]On 12/23/2002 8:33:53 PM [STRONG]TWAnr[/STRONG] [EM]spewed:[/EM]
[P]
[P class=MsoNormal 0pt" 0in][FONT face=Arial color=#000000]For someone who claims to be just a customer, WingNaPrayer certainly takes an unnatural interest in these issues of employees' retirement pre-funding and health and prescription drugs insurance benefits.[/FONT][/P]----------------[/BLOCKQUOTE]
[P]Disgruntled employees are not [EM]productive[/EM] employees, and [EM]that[/EM] affects the bottom line....what [EM]all [/EM]investors are interested in. But then, you bankruptcy babies wouldn't know anything about the bottom line now would you.[/P]

 

[TWAnr]

[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][FONT face=Arial color=#000000]NHBB,[/FONT][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /][o][FONT face=Arial color=#000000] [/FONT][/o][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][FONT face=Arial color=#000000]Actually, the POS (Point of Service) plan is not that different than the indemnity plan.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]You do not need to see your gate keeper before seeing any other doctor.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]Self referral is allowed.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]As long as you see a network doctor, all you pay is the co-payment.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]I have never even met my PCP (primary care provider).[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]My own physician is a preferred provider, but only as a specialist.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]When I see him for all my medical needs, I simply pay $10 more than I would pay to see my PCP.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]If you go out of network, for either a doctor or a hospital, a deductible applies and the co-payment is a percentage (I think 30%, but I am not positive) of the fees and charges.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]You’d be surprised at how extensive the network is.[/FONT][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][o][FONT face=Arial color=#000000] [/FONT][/o][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][FONT face=Arial color=#000000]KCFlyer,[/FONT][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][o][FONT face=Arial color=#000000] [/FONT][/o][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][FONT face=Arial color=#000000]It is not that different at American Airlines than that of what your employer provides.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]There is a choice of plans, anything from HMO to PPO to indemnity types.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]The employee’s share of the premium depends on the plan selected and the geographic area where he or she resides.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]The company pays the rest.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]My employer also offers a benefits cafeteria plan; however, the entire insurance premiums come out of my Flex pay, not just a portion.[/FONT][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][o][FONT face=Arial color=#000000] [/FONT][/o][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][FONT face=Arial color=#000000]P.S.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]For someone who claims to be just a customer, WingNaPrayer certainly takes an unnatural interest in these issues of employees' retirement pre-funding and health and prescription drugs insurance benefits.[/FONT][/P]

 

[TWAnr]

[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][FONT face=Arial color=#000000]NHBB,[/FONT][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /][o][FONT face=Arial color=#000000] [/FONT][/o][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][FONT face=Arial color=#000000]Actually, the POS (Point of Service) plan is not that different than the indemnity plan.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]You do not need to see your gate keeper before seeing any other doctor.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]Self referral is allowed.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]As long as you see a network doctor, all you pay is the co-payment.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]I have never even met my PCP (primary care provider).[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]My own physician is a preferred provider, but only as a specialist.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]When I see him for all my medical needs, I simply pay $10 more than I would pay to see my PCP.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]If you go out of network, for either a doctor or a hospital, a deductible applies and the co-payment is a percentage (I think 30%, but I am not positive) of the fees and charges.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]You’d be surprised at how extensive the network is.[/FONT][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][o][FONT face=Arial color=#000000] [/FONT][/o][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][FONT face=Arial color=#000000]KCFlyer,[/FONT][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][o][FONT face=Arial color=#000000] [/FONT][/o][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][FONT face=Arial color=#000000]It is not that different at American Airlines than that of what your employer provides.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]There is a choice of plans, anything from HMO to PPO to indemnity types.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]The employee’s share of the premium depends on the plan selected and the geographic area where he or she resides.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]The company pays the rest.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]My employer also offers a benefits cafeteria plan; however, the entire insurance premiums come out of my Flex pay, not just a portion.[/FONT][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][o][FONT face=Arial color=#000000] [/FONT][/o][/P]
[P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"][FONT face=Arial color=#000000]P.S.[SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"] [/SPAN]For someone who claims to be just a customer, WingNaPrayer certainly takes an unnatural interest in these issues of employees' retirement pre-funding and health and prescription drugs insurance benefits.[/FONT][/P]

 

[RV4]

.

 

[RV4]

.

 

[KCFlyer]

[P]
[BLOCKQUOTE][BR]----------------[BR]On 12/23/2002 8:51:49 PM RV4 wrote:
[P]Also,[BR][BR]I think the prescription drug details might be important when "looking at the financial" books, and making an informed decision regarding AA's cost versus other carriers.[BR][/P]----------------[/BLOCKQUOTE]
[P]Something tells me you wouldn't believe the numbers if they were shown to you. Health benefits are shockingly high. [/P]

 

[KCFlyer]

[P]
[BLOCKQUOTE][BR]----------------[BR]On 12/23/2002 8:51:49 PM RV4 wrote:
[P]Also,[BR][BR]I think the prescription drug details might be important when "looking at the financial" books, and making an informed decision regarding AA's cost versus other carriers.[BR][/P]----------------[/BLOCKQUOTE]
[P]Something tells me you wouldn't believe the numbers if they were shown to you. Health benefits are shockingly high. [/P]

 

[AV8NSIGO]

KCFlyer,

I'm curious as to what method your employer uses to insure its employees. When I left, AMR self-insured. As such, they have wide latitude in the way their "flex" benefits are offered to the employee groups.

My brother worked for Pepsico when I departed AMR. When comparing flex-benefits plans, the options were worlds apart. I could choose between several plans, but had little choice within those plans. My brother's plan allowed wide flexibility within the various plans. Choices provided him were not available to AMR employees and, I doubt, were even a consideration by AMR management.

My current employer also self insures. But, the choices made available to me are much better than AMR's options. The copay for prescription medication is lower. The cost to cover myself, and three family members, now equals the cost to cover me and my wife at AMR.

I understand the complaints AMR employees voice over their medical coverage.

 

[AV8NSIGO]

KCFlyer,

I'm curious as to what method your employer uses to insure its employees. When I left, AMR self-insured. As such, they have wide latitude in the way their "flex" benefits are offered to the employee groups.

My brother worked for Pepsico when I departed AMR. When comparing flex-benefits plans, the options were worlds apart. I could choose between several plans, but had little choice within those plans. My brother's plan allowed wide flexibility within the various plans. Choices provided him were not available to AMR employees and, I doubt, were even a consideration by AMR management.

My current employer also self insures. But, the choices made available to me are much better than AMR's options. The copay for prescription medication is lower. The cost to cover myself, and three family members, now equals the cost to cover me and my wife at AMR.

I understand the complaints AMR employees voice over their medical coverage.

 

[Dea Certe]

Times of extended stress will decrease the body's immune system along with increasing many stress-related disorders. High blood pressure, gastric problems, migraines and flare ups of auto-immune disorders have a dramatic downward effect on the productivity of any person.

Happy employees tend to be healthier. Seems to me if employees aren't so worried about losing their jobs, taking hefty pay and benefit cuts are going to be more productive and efficient.

 

[Dea Certe]

Times of extended stress will decrease the body's immune system along with increasing many stress-related disorders. High blood pressure, gastric problems, migraines and flare ups of auto-immune disorders have a dramatic downward effect on the productivity of any person.

Happy employees tend to be healthier. Seems to me if employees aren't so worried about losing their jobs, taking hefty pay and benefit cuts are going to be more productive and efficient.

 

[Tango-Bravo]

[blockquote]
----------------
On 12/23/2002 10:24:41 PM KCFlyer wrote:

Something tells me you wouldn't believe the numbers if they were shown to you. Health benefits are shockingly high. [/P]
----------------
[/blockquote]

(Boldface added by T-B)

Interesting how, IMO, the root of the health care cost crisis in one respect parallels one of the main reasons for the malaise of the U.S. cartel airlines: it's known as cost-shifting (I prefer to call it pricing shenanigans). One group of customers pays less than the cost associated with the service provided while others are gouged to cover the shortfall. The results have been the same for both health care and the airlines. Problem for the airlines is that their service is much more discretionary to consumers than health care.

 

[Tango-Bravo]

[blockquote]
----------------
On 12/23/2002 10:24:41 PM KCFlyer wrote:

Something tells me you wouldn't believe the numbers if they were shown to you. Health benefits are shockingly high. [/P]
----------------
[/blockquote]

(Boldface added by T-B)

Interesting how, IMO, the root of the health care cost crisis in one respect parallels one of the main reasons for the malaise of the U.S. cartel airlines: it's known as cost-shifting (I prefer to call it pricing shenanigans). One group of customers pays less than the cost associated with the service provided while others are gouged to cover the shortfall. The results have been the same for both health care and the airlines. Problem for the airlines is that their service is much more discretionary to consumers than health care.