APS and new healthcare provider

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are terrible. This is a huge change and teachers should’ve been given more of a heads up. They’ve put up with a ton in the last couple of years and morale is terrible already.

APS has known since July. There’s no excuse why they weren’t told sooner.

Is there a reason APS couldn't have said in the spring that Kaiser didn't put in a bid so they will not be an option in 2024? They may not have known who they'd use yet, but they'd have known that Kaiser wasn't in the running.

Yes, there were not allowed to disclose that per VA law.

This.

I can understand APS teachers being bummed. But the continuing complaining and anger toward APS when you have been given facts about how this works and why this happened is messed up. If Duran tells you all Kaiser didn't bid, that completely invalidates the procurement process. Other vendors would then have information that would affect their bids. APS CAN'T TELL YOU! Think through what it means to be part of public service and civics class and competitive bidding and why this all works the way it works. I get it you don't like the outcome. But this is necessary.

Some teachers naivite about how anything in the real world works is actually shocking to me. Total lack of common sense. It's embarrassing for you and your profession.

As a teacher in FCPS, I agree with you. The angst and complaining we have had in FCPS in changing from BCBS to Cigna this yearhas been ridiculous. All of my providers have been in Cigna and I have had no issues. We have great insurance and it is relatively inexpensive compared to the corporate world.

Ah, you have more sympathy from me than the APS teachers. Going from BCBS to Cigna is likely a more overall loss than going from Kaiser to BCBS.

I think this is the part that I don’t get. BCBS is such a huge upgrade. They should be celebrating.

Also, my family has had a new insurance plan pretty much every single year or every other year for the last 10 years. It’s what healthcare is now, unfortunately.

The issue is that there is very little time for Kaiser families to find all new doctors across the board. Pediatrician, PCP, ob/gyn, etc.

It’s a shame the transition can’t happen in the early summer instead of right in the middle of the school year.

How much time do you need? It’s only September!

And these are the people who are supposed to be teaching our kids problem-solving skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sympathize with you, APS teachers on Kaiser. It is not easy to find new doctors right now, but they’re out there. Good news is that this is likely a one time switch- most practices around here participate in many of the big plans.

As hard as this is, you not winning any supporters with this. Stop trying to get the parents to do your bidding for you. It’s unprofessional. The Board has a fiduciary duty to the taxpayers to ensure that the benefits that are being provided to you are being obtained at a reasonable cost commensurate with market rates. Insurance plans cost a whole lot more than the small fraction you individually pay.

Additionally - All of us in corporate land have been through insurer changes, along with massive YoY increases in premiums or deductibles, and limits on service. You are being offered what appears to be a great plan at a competitive cost. Stop threatening to quit or call out for days on end unless you’d like to come experience employer coverage out here in the wild.

Or maybe, just maybe we CARE about the kids we teach and feel bad that we will have to take days off because we know it sucks, but it is also the only way we are given. It isn’t a threat, just the reality of what we are facing.

This has nothing to do with insurance plans changing. I know some people are asking for more days off to "look for more doctors" That's nonsense. Most of this can be done online at any time of day. Even if not, our contract hours allow for phone calls.

Including on the many days school is off. Not all offices close for Columbus Day, Veterans Day, election day, the whole week of Thanksgiving (though that is more challenging) or two weeks in December.

Teachers work on Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day and Election Day, you know. You do know that they are working on many days that students don’t attend school, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are terrible. This is a huge change and teachers should’ve been given more of a heads up. They’ve put up with a ton in the last couple of years and morale is terrible already.

APS has known since July. There’s no excuse why they weren’t told sooner.

Is there a reason APS couldn't have said in the spring that Kaiser didn't put in a bid so they will not be an option in 2024? They may not have known who they'd use yet, but they'd have known that Kaiser wasn't in the running.

Yes, there were not allowed to disclose that per VA law.

This.

I can understand APS teachers being bummed. But the continuing complaining and anger toward APS when you have been given facts about how this works and why this happened is messed up. If Duran tells you all Kaiser didn't bid, that completely invalidates the procurement process. Other vendors would then have information that would affect their bids. APS CAN'T TELL YOU! Think through what it means to be part of public service and civics class and competitive bidding and why this all works the way it works. I get it you don't like the outcome. But this is necessary.

Some teachers naivite about how anything in the real world works is actually shocking to me. Total lack of common sense. It's embarrassing for you and your profession.

As a teacher in FCPS, I agree with you. The angst and complaining we have had in FCPS in changing from BCBS to Cigna this yearhas been ridiculous. All of my providers have been in Cigna and I have had no issues. We have great insurance and it is relatively inexpensive compared to the corporate world.

Ah, you have more sympathy from me than the APS teachers. Going from BCBS to Cigna is likely a more overall loss than going from Kaiser to BCBS.

I think this is the part that I don’t get. BCBS is such a huge upgrade. They should be celebrating.

Also, my family has had a new insurance plan pretty much every single year or every other year for the last 10 years. It’s what healthcare is now, unfortunately.

The issue is that there is very little time for Kaiser families to find all new doctors across the board. Pediatrician, PCP, ob/gyn, etc.

It’s a shame the transition can’t happen in the early summer instead of right in the middle of the school year.

How much time do you need? It’s only September!

And these are the people who are supposed to be teaching our kids problem-solving skills.

Pediatricians and PCPs are especially tough right now. Many aren’t taking new patients.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are terrible. This is a huge change and teachers should’ve been given more of a heads up. They’ve put up with a ton in the last couple of years and morale is terrible already.

APS has known since July. There’s no excuse why they weren’t told sooner.

Is there a reason APS couldn't have said in the spring that Kaiser didn't put in a bid so they will not be an option in 2024? They may not have known who they'd use yet, but they'd have known that Kaiser wasn't in the running.

Yes, there were not allowed to disclose that per VA law.

This.

I can understand APS teachers being bummed. But the continuing complaining and anger toward APS when you have been given facts about how this works and why this happened is messed up. If Duran tells you all Kaiser didn't bid, that completely invalidates the procurement process. Other vendors would then have information that would affect their bids. APS CAN'T TELL YOU! Think through what it means to be part of public service and civics class and competitive bidding and why this all works the way it works. I get it you don't like the outcome. But this is necessary.

Some teachers naivite about how anything in the real world works is actually shocking to me. Total lack of common sense. It's embarrassing for you and your profession.

As a teacher in FCPS, I agree with you. The angst and complaining we have had in FCPS in changing from BCBS to Cigna this yearhas been ridiculous. All of my providers have been in Cigna and I have had no issues. We have great insurance and it is relatively inexpensive compared to the corporate world.

Ah, you have more sympathy from me than the APS teachers. Going from BCBS to Cigna is likely a more overall loss than going from Kaiser to BCBS.

I think this is the part that I don’t get. BCBS is such a huge upgrade. They should be celebrating.

Also, my family has had a new insurance plan pretty much every single year or every other year for the last 10 years. It’s what healthcare is now, unfortunately.

The issue is that there is very little time for Kaiser families to find all new doctors across the board. Pediatrician, PCP, ob/gyn, etc.

It’s a shame the transition can’t happen in the early summer instead of right in the middle of the school year.

How much time do you need? It’s only September!

And these are the people who are supposed to be teaching our kids problem-solving skills.

Pediatricians and PCPs are especially tough right now. Many aren’t taking new patients.

Sorry, but that’s crap. A quick Google search shows the opposite.

[Anonymous]

Northern VA Pediatrics is accepting new patients and they take BCBS. Not far from 7 corners, just across the line in falls church. And they are WAY better than Kaiser.

Get a grip people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel badly for one teacher who spoke last night who had some real medical issues that she was dealing with. I hope that Kaiser would work with her to a destinations before the switch.

That said, we have all had to change providers at some point, and I don’t appreciate that some outspoken individuals are complaining to the parents about this. Health insurance issues suck. I get that. However, what they are facing isn’t that uncommon and the hyper Bolic statements about needing sick days just to find doctors makes them look out of touch with reality. I think it’s certain Facebook page draws people to complain about everything and I think it’s actually done more harm to the system and good.

This made me laugh. Young staff I work with get 15 days of PTO plus 8 holidays per year. 23 days of leave for the whole year - this is supposed to cover sick days, vacations, kid's days off from school... whatever. And their health insurance changes companies every few years, too. From the APS leave policy document, it appears that new teachers get at least 14 days of paid leave, another 10 sick days, 5 days at Thanksgiving, 10 at Christmas, and 5 in the spring. I recognize that the pay is commensurate with this much leave, but honestly, to claim that you need more time off to get new doctors is making you sound completely unhinged and really hurting any goodwill that parents would be willing to share with you.

I don’t disagree with your broader point, but where did you get 5 days at Thanksgiving? That is laughable. We have an APS teacher in our family, and I can tell you that they get Thanksgiving, plus 1 day before and 1 afterward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel badly for one teacher who spoke last night who had some real medical issues that she was dealing with. I hope that Kaiser would work with her to a destinations before the switch.

That said, we have all had to change providers at some point, and I don’t appreciate that some outspoken individuals are complaining to the parents about this. Health insurance issues suck. I get that. However, what they are facing isn’t that uncommon and the hyper Bolic statements about needing sick days just to find doctors makes them look out of touch with reality. I think it’s certain Facebook page draws people to complain about everything and I think it’s actually done more harm to the system and good.

This made me laugh. Young staff I work with get 15 days of PTO plus 8 holidays per year. 23 days of leave for the whole year - this is supposed to cover sick days, vacations, kid's days off from school... whatever. And their health insurance changes companies every few years, too. From the APS leave policy document, it appears that new teachers get at least 14 days of paid leave, another 10 sick days, 5 days at Thanksgiving, 10 at Christmas, and 5 in the spring. I recognize that the pay is commensurate with this much leave, but honestly, to claim that you need more time off to get new doctors is making you sound completely unhinged and really hurting any goodwill that parents would be willing to share with you.

I don’t disagree with your broader point, but where did you get 5 days at Thanksgiving? That is laughable. We have an APS teacher in our family, and I can tell you that they get Thanksgiving, plus 1 day before and 1 afterward.

With the weekend it’s 5 days

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel badly for one teacher who spoke last night who had some real medical issues that she was dealing with. I hope that Kaiser would work with her to a destinations before the switch.

That said, we have all had to change providers at some point, and I don’t appreciate that some outspoken individuals are complaining to the parents about this. Health insurance issues suck. I get that. However, what they are facing isn’t that uncommon and the hyper Bolic statements about needing sick days just to find doctors makes them look out of touch with reality. I think it’s certain Facebook page draws people to complain about everything and I think it’s actually done more harm to the system and good.

This made me laugh. Young staff I work with get 15 days of PTO plus 8 holidays per year. 23 days of leave for the whole year - this is supposed to cover sick days, vacations, kid's days off from school... whatever. And their health insurance changes companies every few years, too. From the APS leave policy document, it appears that new teachers get at least 14 days of paid leave, another 10 sick days, 5 days at Thanksgiving, 10 at Christmas, and 5 in the spring. I recognize that the pay is commensurate with this much leave, but honestly, to claim that you need more time off to get new doctors is making you sound completely unhinged and really hurting any goodwill that parents would be willing to share with you.

I don’t disagree with your broader point, but where did you get 5 days at Thanksgiving? That is laughable. We have an APS teacher in our family, and I can tell you that they get Thanksgiving, plus 1 day before and 1 afterward.

With the weekend it’s 5 days

OK…. But the weekend isn’t leave.

[Anonymous]

For the person who keeps talking about my summer off… I wish you could be a fly on the wall for this past month. Do you have any idea how many additional hours we put in? I have worked every evening and weekend for the past month. I fell asleep at 7 last night because I’m so exhausted. I have more education than all of my Arlington neighbors who work from home, take long walks all day, make more than me, and then all tell me how “lucky” I am every summer. It is a choice I made, but it is not cushy. Have some respect. Or hey, join us… we can’t find enough people to do it, cushy gig that it is. Come and join the team.

The insurance thing does not affect me, but I can tell you that teachers in APS are quite rightfully upset. Duran gave all the central office staff an extra three weeks of vacation, and things are not getting done. There are basic things we need, many people that are supposed to support us, and our jobs have become much harder. Huge classes. No funding for field trips. No subs. Difficulty renewing licenses and getting supplies. All as this occurs, an expanding central office.

Now, you have teachers that will have to pay more for insurance. (Don’t just look at rates, look at the deductibles.). It’s like the straw that broke the camel’s back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the person who keeps talking about my summer off… I wish you could be a fly on the wall for this past month. Do you have any idea how many additional hours we put in? I have worked every evening and weekend for the past month. I fell asleep at 7 last night because I’m so exhausted. I have more education than all of my Arlington neighbors who work from home, take long walks all day, make more than me, and then all tell me how “lucky” I am every summer. It is a choice I made, but it is not cushy. Have some respect. Or hey, join us… we can’t find enough people to do it, cushy gig that it is. Come and join the team.

The insurance thing does not affect me, but I can tell you that teachers in APS are quite rightfully upset. Duran gave all the central office staff an extra three weeks of vacation, and things are not getting done. There are basic things we need, many people that are supposed to support us, and our jobs have become much harder. Huge classes. No funding for field trips. No subs. Difficulty renewing licenses and getting supplies. All as this occurs, an expanding central office.

Now, you have teachers that will have to pay more for insurance. (Don’t just look at rates, look at the deductibles.). It’s like the straw that broke the camel’s back.

No, people have no idea how many extra hours teachers are expected to put in. They assume teaching is the chill job it was back when they were kids.

The insurance thing is going to be a particularly frustrating in public education because cheaper health insurance is part of what attracts people to government jobs. I am in fact getting into education because health insurance through DH's job is so costly (I'm not becoming a teacher though, that wouldn't be financially worth it compared to the hours put in).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Northern VA Pediatrics is accepting new patients and they take BCBS. Not far from 7 corners, just across the line in falls church. And they are WAY better than Kaiser.

Get a grip people.

My kids go there. They were only taking newborns not that long ago. Based on how far out I have to schedule well appointments they are very full.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the person who keeps talking about my summer off… I wish you could be a fly on the wall for this past month. Do you have any idea how many additional hours we put in? I have worked every evening and weekend for the past month. I fell asleep at 7 last night because I’m so exhausted. I have more education than all of my Arlington neighbors who work from home, take long walks all day, make more than me, and then all tell me how “lucky” I am every summer. It is a choice I made, but it is not cushy. Have some respect. Or hey, join us… we can’t find enough people to do it, cushy gig that it is. Come and join the team.

The insurance thing does not affect me, but I can tell you that teachers in APS are quite rightfully upset. Duran gave all the central office staff an extra three weeks of vacation, and things are not getting done. There are basic things we need, many people that are supposed to support us, and our jobs have become much harder. Huge classes. No funding for field trips. No subs. Difficulty renewing licenses and getting supplies. All as this occurs, an expanding central office.

Now, you have teachers that will have to pay more for insurance. (Don’t just look at rates, look at the deductibles.). It’s like the straw that broke the camel’s back.

No, people have no idea how many extra hours teachers are expected to put in. They assume teaching is the chill job it was back when they were kids.

The insurance thing is going to be a particularly frustrating in public education because cheaper health insurance is part of what attracts people to government jobs. I am in fact getting into education because health insurance through DH's job is so costly (I'm not becoming a teacher though, that wouldn't be financially worth it compared to the hours put in).

You should go into the equity office. There are millions of dollars being paid in salaries there, and we teachers can’t figure out for the life of us what in the hell it is that they do. They don’t work with kids. Looks like you put out a training and maybe a survey once a year? Now that’s cushy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel badly for one teacher who spoke last night who had some real medical issues that she was dealing with. I hope that Kaiser would work with her to a destinations before the switch.

That said, we have all had to change providers at some point, and I don’t appreciate that some outspoken individuals are complaining to the parents about this. Health insurance issues suck. I get that. However, what they are facing isn’t that uncommon and the hyper Bolic statements about needing sick days just to find doctors makes them look out of touch with reality. I think it’s certain Facebook page draws people to complain about everything and I think it’s actually done more harm to the system and good.

This made me laugh. Young staff I work with get 15 days of PTO plus 8 holidays per year. 23 days of leave for the whole year - this is supposed to cover sick days, vacations, kid's days off from school... whatever. And their health insurance changes companies every few years, too. From the APS leave policy document, it appears that new teachers get at least 14 days of paid leave, another 10 sick days, 5 days at Thanksgiving, 10 at Christmas, and 5 in the spring. I recognize that the pay is commensurate with this much leave, but honestly, to claim that you need more time off to get new doctors is making you sound completely unhinged and really hurting any goodwill that parents would be willing to share with you.

I don’t disagree with your broader point, but where did you get 5 days at Thanksgiving? That is laughable. We have an APS teacher in our family, and I can tell you that they get Thanksgiving, plus 1 day before and 1 afterward.

With the weekend it’s 5 days

OK…. But the weekend isn’t leave.

Omg. Teachers get the weekends off? So lazy.

Didn’t all of the APS teacher bullies leave for private? Why are they still trying to abuse teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel badly for one teacher who spoke last night who had some real medical issues that she was dealing with. I hope that Kaiser would work with her to a destinations before the switch.

That said, we have all had to change providers at some point, and I don’t appreciate that some outspoken individuals are complaining to the parents about this. Health insurance issues suck. I get that. However, what they are facing isn’t that uncommon and the hyper Bolic statements about needing sick days just to find doctors makes them look out of touch with reality. I think it’s certain Facebook page draws people to complain about everything and I think it’s actually done more harm to the system and good.

This made me laugh. Young staff I work with get 15 days of PTO plus 8 holidays per year. 23 days of leave for the whole year - this is supposed to cover sick days, vacations, kid's days off from school... whatever. And their health insurance changes companies every few years, too. From the APS leave policy document, it appears that new teachers get at least 14 days of paid leave, another 10 sick days, 5 days at Thanksgiving, 10 at Christmas, and 5 in the spring. I recognize that the pay is commensurate with this much leave, but honestly, to claim that you need more time off to get new doctors is making you sound completely unhinged and really hurting any goodwill that parents would be willing to share with you.

I don’t disagree with your broader point, but where did you get 5 days at Thanksgiving? That is laughable. We have an APS teacher in our family, and I can tell you that they get Thanksgiving, plus 1 day before and 1 afterward.

With the weekend it’s 5 days

OK…. But the weekend isn’t leave.

Omg. Teachers get the weekends off? So lazy.

Didn’t all of the APS teacher bullies leave for private? Why are they still trying to abuse teachers?

I don’t think anyone is bullying teachers. I think they feel teachers are whining about an insurance change. The problem is awareness. The issues APS teachers currently have with central office are so much deeper than that. And no… it does not make it any better that some teachers in this country have it worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel badly for one teacher who spoke last night who had some real medical issues that she was dealing with. I hope that Kaiser would work with her to a destinations before the switch.

That said, we have all had to change providers at some point, and I don’t appreciate that some outspoken individuals are complaining to the parents about this. Health insurance issues suck. I get that. However, what they are facing isn’t that uncommon and the hyper Bolic statements about needing sick days just to find doctors makes them look out of touch with reality. I think it’s certain Facebook page draws people to complain about everything and I think it’s actually done more harm to the system and good.

This made me laugh. Young staff I work with get 15 days of PTO plus 8 holidays per year. 23 days of leave for the whole year - this is supposed to cover sick days, vacations, kid's days off from school... whatever. And their health insurance changes companies every few years, too. From the APS leave policy document, it appears that new teachers get at least 14 days of paid leave, another 10 sick days, 5 days at Thanksgiving, 10 at Christmas, and 5 in the spring. I recognize that the pay is commensurate with this much leave, but honestly, to claim that you need more time off to get new doctors is making you sound completely unhinged and really hurting any goodwill that parents would be willing to share with you.

Teachers aren’t paid for any of those days off. We are off but not paid. Central office gets paid for all those days off.