APS and new healthcare provider

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The way it works is the contract is up and they go out to bid. If your existing healthcare didn’t put up a competitive bid, they switch to another company. That is their obligation in their effort to keep healthcare costs down for all of you and for taxpayers.

County employees are not on the same plan but same thing can happen to them (and has). County employees are also under a different pension.

I would have never guessed that BC would end up being a better deal than Kaiser.

From what they sent staff it appears that Kaiser did not bid during the procurement process

That’s what Duran just said. That Kaiser did not submit a bid. Maybe they’ve put brakes on their expansion? APS knew since July. They just told staff yesterday.

A memo of intent over the summer is not a signed contract and negotiating these contracts is a big deal and a lot of work and sometimes things fall through and they move on to the second choice option. So no they’re not going to tell you until a contract is signed.

This is not a plot against you all. It’s life. They’re doing their jobs and yes it has some consequences that aren’t fun. If your current insurer didn’t bid, not much choice in their end.

+1 People would have flipped if they were told this in July and then given no details. I think they should have released whatever they are sending tomorrow with Wednesday’s email but it’s not a ridiculous wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The way it works is the contract is up and they go out to bid. If your existing healthcare didn’t put up a competitive bid, they switch to another company. That is their obligation in their effort to keep healthcare costs down for all of you and for taxpayers.

County employees are not on the same plan but same thing can happen to them (and has). County employees are also under a different pension.

I would have never guessed that BC would end up being a better deal than Kaiser.

Me either. But there are many different BC plans and not all of them are great.

[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.

No, my kid needs to be brought to a doctor so her multiple therapies can be approved. I need to take medicine for a chronic condition. I suppose after being in Kaiser for 20 years, I could be out of it, but I doubt a doctor will just approve and write a prescription without ever seeing me. I can pick a doctor out online, in fact I already have on the BCBS website. That doesn’t mean I can get him to prescribe meds sight unseen. We have to SEE the doctor and that can’t be done outside of contract hours.

It’s harder but not impossible. That’s an advantage non-Kaiser plans, more locations. I’ve taken 7:30 appointments and 4:30 several times before. That being said I absolutely think you should take sick time for the appointments if it’s easier for you!

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

No, my kid needs to be brought to a doctor so her multiple therapies can be approved. I need to take medicine for a chronic condition. I suppose after being in Kaiser for 20 years, I could be out of it, but I doubt a doctor will just approve and write a prescription without ever seeing me. I can pick a doctor out online, in fact I already have on the BCBS website. That doesn’t mean I can get him to prescribe meds sight unseen. We have to SEE the doctor and that can’t be done outside of contract hours.

Bcbs doesn’t require referalls for therapy.

[Anonymous]

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.

Thank you for caring.
Maybe you can research online at home in evenings and weekends like other employees have to do; and use those holiday and other days off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The way it works is the contract is up and they go out to bid. If your existing healthcare didn’t put up a competitive bid, they switch to another company. That is their obligation in their effort to keep healthcare costs down for all of you and for taxpayers.

County employees are not on the same plan but same thing can happen to them (and has). County employees are also under a different pension.

I would have never guessed that BC would end up being a better deal than Kaiser.

From what they sent staff it appears that Kaiser did not bid during the procurement process

That’s what Duran just said. That Kaiser did not submit a bid. Maybe they’ve put brakes on their expansion? APS knew since July. They just told staff yesterday.

A memo of intent over the summer is not a signed contract and negotiating these contracts is a big deal and a lot of work and sometimes things fall through and they move on to the second choice option. So no they’re not going to tell you until a contract is signed.

This is not a plot against you all. It’s life. They’re doing their jobs and yes it has some consequences that aren’t fun. If your current insurer didn’t bid, not much choice in their end.

This. Yes, it's a PITA but the district is legally required to competitively bid these things periodically.

I did see, however, a notice shared on the Facebook group that the "info sessions" for staff about the new plans are during the school day which really is ridiculous. Changing insurance is a PITA but you don't have to make it harder on people by being so inconsiderate.

[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.

LOL. Oh, you mean the exact times kids are off school and everyone else in the world (including every other teacher) books up months in advance? And you mean dates that are months away for parents and kids with chronic conditions who can’t wait that long? Those days? Please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The way it works is the contract is up and they go out to bid. If your existing healthcare didn’t put up a competitive bid, they switch to another company. That is their obligation in their effort to keep healthcare costs down for all of you and for taxpayers.

County employees are not on the same plan but same thing can happen to them (and has). County employees are also under a different pension.

I would have never guessed that BC would end up being a better deal than Kaiser.

From what they sent staff it appears that Kaiser did not bid during the procurement process

That’s what Duran just said. That Kaiser did not submit a bid. Maybe they’ve put brakes on their expansion? APS knew since July. They just told staff yesterday.

A memo of intent over the summer is not a signed contract and negotiating these contracts is a big deal and a lot of work and sometimes things fall through and they move on to the second choice option. So no they’re not going to tell you until a contract is signed.

This is not a plot against you all. It’s life. They’re doing their jobs and yes it has some consequences that aren’t fun. If your current insurer didn’t bid, not much choice in their end.

This. Yes, it's a PITA but the district is legally required to competitively bid these things periodically.

I did see, however, a notice shared on the Facebook group that the "info sessions" for staff about the new plans are during the school day which really is ridiculous. Changing insurance is a PITA but you don't have to make it harder on people by being so inconsiderate.

They have some open enrollment sessions during the day (including at the trades center for bus drivers and other techs) and some outside of teaching hours. They have not listed the times for the Carefirst specific sessions yet.

[Anonymous]

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.

Thank you for caring.
Maybe you can research online at home in evenings and weekends like other employees have to do; and use those holiday and other days off.

Or she can take off and your kids can have unqualified subs or be dumped into another oversized classroom. Shrug.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

No, my kid needs to be brought to a doctor so her multiple therapies can be approved. I need to take medicine for a chronic condition. I suppose after being in Kaiser for 20 years, I could be out of it, but I doubt a doctor will just approve and write a prescription without ever seeing me. I can pick a doctor out online, in fact I already have on the BCBS website. That doesn’t mean I can get him to prescribe meds sight unseen. We have to SEE the doctor and that can’t be done outside of contract hours.

Bcbs doesn’t require referalls for therapy.

So anyone can just sign up for a BCBA (autism), PT or OT at any point and go to as many therapies as they feel like it? And the insurance will fully pay. I doubt that, but if so great!

[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.

Thank you for caring.
Maybe you can research online at home in evenings and weekends like other employees have to do; and use those holiday and other days off.

Or she can take off and your kids can have unqualified subs or be dumped into another oversized classroom. Shrug.

Just like any other day. Stop your whining and act like a grownup

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one outside APS staff will care because many many of us have had to do it. And yes, open enrollment happens at the same time every year. APS didn’t pick flu season. It just is when it is.

Right, but you will care when your kids teacher is out multiple days early in the year. And then we will all get sick from visiting all the doctors and take more time off. I’m just saying it will probably affect you in that way. So shrug all you want, just know to expect absences.

You're going to get sick from visiting the doctor? What?

Uh yeah. Take the toddler to a well check up and wham 2-3 days later after playing with the toys the sick kids played with my kids invariable get the virus all the sick kids had when they went to the doctor.

Again, I’m not looking for sympathy at all. Just know that when teachers are out and there aren’t any subs, your kids will be having split classes, bad subs, etc. Don’t post about it, it is a foreseeable occurrence.

I’m sorry, but give me a break. If you get sick, it’s probably from one of the hundreds of gremlins in your school, not the doctor’s office.

(Are you less likely to get sick as a Kaiser office? I mean, come on.)

[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.

No, my kid needs to be brought to a doctor so her multiple therapies can be approved. I need to take medicine for a chronic condition. I suppose after being in Kaiser for 20 years, I could be out of it, but I doubt a doctor will just approve and write a prescription without ever seeing me. I can pick a doctor out online, in fact I already have on the BCBS website. That doesn’t mean I can get him to prescribe meds sight unseen. We have to SEE the doctor and that can’t be done outside of contract hours.

Ok, so two new appointments (one for you and one for your daughter) doesn’t seem like that big of a deal.

You’re acting like you’re going to have thousands of appointments. A bit melodramatic.

(Your daughter may have multiple therapy appointments, but wouldn’t that also be the case if you still had Kaiser?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

No, my kid needs to be brought to a doctor so her multiple therapies can be approved. I need to take medicine for a chronic condition. I suppose after being in Kaiser for 20 years, I could be out of it, but I doubt a doctor will just approve and write a prescription without ever seeing me. I can pick a doctor out online, in fact I already have on the BCBS website. That doesn’t mean I can get him to prescribe meds sight unseen. We have to SEE the doctor and that can’t be done outside of contract hours.

Ok, so two new appointments (one for you and one for your daughter) doesn’t seem like that big of a deal.

You’re acting like you’re going to have thousands of appointments. A bit melodramatic.

(Your daughter may have multiple therapy appointments, but wouldn’t that also be the case if you still had Kaiser?)

Each therapist usually needs an intake appointment which is at a weird time so they can “test” your kid in whatever they deem necessary and get to know history and your kid then you can set appointments on a regular basis. Keep in mind we can only take half days from 9-12 or 12-4 so if you get a 10:30-1:00 appointment it turns into the whole day because the first time you go to a doctor you don’t know if it is the kind of office that is always running late. So it usually ends up being a whole day or else you don’t have coverage. That is up to 4 days for my kid (one general doc and each therapist) and 1 for me, of course I will try my best to take half days, but if Kaiser was still going, it would be zero because we wouldn’t need all the intake appointments.

Sorry, if it is “melodramatic” but yeah that is a lot of time off during a testing month Dibels and pals.