Biglaw and Health Insurance

[Anonymous]

I just read on another thread that Biglaw has largely moved away from subsidizing health insurance premiums for attorneys. Is this true? It’s always been true for partners, obviously, but non-partners as well? I always thought Biglaw benefits were considered top notch. This would be a major change if it were true.

[Anonymous]

I am considering quitting over this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am considering quitting over this.

For real? What are your monthly premiums and does it include family?

I am so surprised by this. I wonder if firms decided to raise salaries to astronomical levels, but cut back correspondingly on benefits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am considering quitting over this.

You should! How can they expect you to pay your own health insurance when you make so little money??

[Anonymous]

When I was at a firm 10 years ago health insurance sucked. I paid basically the same premium for a crappy high deductible plan as I now pay for BCBS basic. Not sure if the firms contribution was small or if they just got bad rates because if all the old partners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am considering quitting over this.

For real? What are your monthly premiums and does it include family?

I am so surprised by this. I wonder if firms decided to raise salaries to astronomical levels, but cut back correspondingly on benefits?

Family premiums for a law firm are north of $2k/mo, Depends on the type of plan one chooses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am considering quitting over this.

For real? What are your monthly premiums and does it include family?

I am so surprised by this. I wonder if firms decided to raise salaries to astronomical levels, but cut back correspondingly on benefits?

Family premiums for a law firm are north of $2k/mo, Depends on the type of plan one chooses.

Even for non-partners? Is this a new thing? Because when I left Biglaw a decade or so ago it sure didn’t cost that much.

[Anonymous]

not a new thing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am considering quitting over this.

For real? What are your monthly premiums and does it include family?

I am so surprised by this. I wonder if firms decided to raise salaries to astronomical levels, but cut back correspondingly on benefits?

Family premiums for a law firm are north of $2k/mo, Depends on the type of plan one chooses.

Even for non-partners? Is this a new thing? Because when I left Biglaw a decade or so ago it sure didn’t cost that much.

+1 I left biglaw 10 years ago as an associate. My insurance was great and premiums were comparable to what I paid at my subsequent job as a fed. So very low and well subsidized by the firm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am considering quitting over this.

For real? What are your monthly premiums and does it include family?

I am so surprised by this. I wonder if firms decided to raise salaries to astronomical levels, but cut back correspondingly on benefits?

Family premiums for a law firm are north of $2k/mo, Depends on the type of plan one chooses.

Even for non-partners? Is this a new thing? Because when I left Biglaw a decade or so ago it sure didn’t cost that much.

+1 I left biglaw 10 years ago as an associate. My insurance was great and premiums were comparable to what I paid at my subsequent job as a fed. So very low and well subsidized by the firm.

Same here. Hence my question. I’m very surprised.

[Anonymous]

I left a top BigLaw firm 7 years ago and our insurance was expensive then. We used my husband's insurance because it was significantly better and cheaper.

In general firms cheap out on benefits, packing all compensation into salary + bonus because that's what makes Above the Law. They don't offer things like a 401k match or good insurance.

[Anonymous]

It varies significantly by firm, often by several thousand per year for employees with families. It should be a real consideration when you’re deciding between firms.

Non-equity partners, even those who are still W2 employees, typically don’t get any subsidized coverage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It varies significantly by firm, often by several thousand per year for employees with families. It should be a real consideration when you’re deciding between firms.

Non-equity partners, even those who are still W2 employees, typically don’t get any subsidized coverage.

+1. My DH joined a law firm a few years ago as a non-equity partner, and the health insurance would have been $2000 per month for our family. Fortunately, I have good health insurance at my job, and so our family is on my plan for $500 per month (large corporate employer).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just read on another thread that Biglaw has largely moved away from subsidizing health insurance premiums for attorneys. Is this true? It’s always been true for partners, obviously, but non-partners as well? I always thought Biglaw benefits were considered top notch. This would be a major change if it were true.

Well you thought wrong. The benefits have sucked as long as I’ve been in biglaw (10 years). No retirement match, even subsidized healthcare plans sorta suck, everything else bear bones to try to goose up those salary numbers.

[Anonymous]

Early retired Biglaw partner here. The firm let me stay on its group health care plan when a left around a decade ago provided I keep paying the entire premium, which for my spouse and me is $1400 a month for a high deductible plan that includes both medical and dental. When I left the firm they were still heavily subsidizing associates though. Things must have really changed.