Teachers, your medical benefits, am I reading it correctly?

[In & Out]

Originally Posted by travelmate38

Yes, but if you read my post, their supplimental plan for the rest of the family is over TWICE as much as it can be purchased for privately. And that is not comparing apples to oranges. It is for the same policy plan. So either they are overcharging and pocketing the difference, or they need to shop around themselves.

Given my recent disillusionment with our Governor and his cronies, I would not be surprised if you are correct about pocketing the extra.

[saturnfan]

Watch out.

The head of the state health plan was fired this week for not keeping costs in line with the new PPO plan.

Fee changes may be coming next year when Jack Walker returns to his previous post running the health plan.

[papilgee4evaeva]

Originally Posted by saturnfan

Watch out.

The head of the state health plan was fired this week for not keeping costs in line with the new PPO plan.

Fee changes may be coming next year when Jack Walker returns to his previous post running the health plan.

What's this mean? Enlighten the out-of-towner, please.

[travelmate38]

Originally Posted by saturnfan

Watch out.

The head of the state health plan was fired this week for not keeping costs in line with the new PPO plan.

Fee changes may be coming next year when Jack Walker returns to his previous post running the health plan.

Wake already announced a $32 million cut this week. This is not sitting well with district employees as it is. Now you are saying that PPO plans may increase more? Hmm, can a non-union entity strike? Have you seen the jobs list lately? School starts in a what, 6 weeks? They have hundreds of positions to fill. Hundreds and hundreds and a limited pool of qualified applicants. It would be commical to me if they tried to mess with the PPO plan and watch the fallout from this. As of right now they have two choices. Start school with many classrooms having no teacher in place, or hire under qualified help. You want to talk to me about the health benefit cuts again?

[saturnfan]

The new director of the state health plan didn't deliver on his promise to cut costs with the recently implemented PPO option. He was canned.

No official word, but the possible result of this was indicated as premium adjustments in the next plan year.

Jack Walker was being asked to come back from retirement to resume captaining the health coverage.

This may not bode well, especially for the already high family rates.

[RPV2NC]

Originally Posted by Waterboy526

I totally agree with what you said. If you're single it's great, if you have a family then 99% of the time you can get better, cheaper private insurance. They must use the "extra" money to help subsidize employees who get free single health care. Either way, my wife has better and MUCH cheaper insurance and when we have our baby later this year, he/she will be going on her insurance.

Unfortunately for us, we have preexisting conditions which caused Aetna to reject us and compell us to use WCPSS's plan. In Los Angeles I paid nothing for health insurance for myself and my family. Now I pay $2,200 a month for Cobra coverage (double what it is supposed to be because I moved to another state) until my benefits kick in in September. I can't wait to pay "only" 600 a month to give myself and my family the best coverage WCPSS offers.

[In & Out]

Originally Posted by RPV2NC

Unfortunately for us, we have preexisting conditions which caused Aetna to reject us and compell us to use WCPSS's plan. In Los Angeles I paid nothing for health insurance for myself and my family. Now I pay $2,200 a month for Cobra coverage (double what it is supposed to be because I moved to another state) until my benefits kick in in September. I can't wait to pay "only" 600 a month to give myself and my family the best coverage WCPSS offers.

Try BCBSNC. I found great short term gap rates there. Less than $150 per month.

[CarolinaTeacher]

Originally Posted by fanofyanks

I think its a shame that teachers are not compensated enough for their jobs. Here on Long Island teachers starting salary is 50,000 and a lot of teachers here make well over 80,000. Teachers pay into their health benefits but its a small percentage. Teaching is one of the most important jobs, and it can often be a very difficult job. Plus here in NY you cannot teach without having your master's degree, so its expensive to become a teacher. I hope the country starts to value teachers more, and pay them what they deserve.

Thank you! I appreciate what you said about the country needing to value its teachers more and pay them what they deserve! I am a teacher in Randolph County. It is a VERY difficult job, and I work anywhere from 50-60 hours a week during the school year. It is stressful . . . but is also very rewarding. However, I get SOOO tired of hearing people say how we shouldn't complain because we get every federal holiday off, a week off at Christmas and in the spring, and then summers off. Well, yes, this is true, BUT we do not get paid for our time off in the summer. If you average the hours I work every week, it comes out to more hours than if I worked a "regular" 40-hour week job, 50 weeks a year (allowing for 2 weeks of vacation). I teach because I know I am making a difference in the lives of young people. I put a lot of time and effort into what I do. I just wish people had more respect for our profession. I dated a guy who was VERY resentful of our days "off" . . . and had NOTHING good to say about what I did for a living. Needless to say, he is not around anymore! I wanted him to do my job for a week and see what he had to say then!!! lol Anyhow, a BIG thanks to those of you on this site who are supportive and appreciative of what we do for children!

[saturnfan]

Originally Posted by CarolinaTeacher

Thank you! I appreciate what you said about the country needing to value its teachers more and pay them what they deserve! I am a teacher in Randolph County. It is a VERY difficult job, and I work anywhere from 50-60 hours a week during the school year. It is stressful . . . but is also very rewarding. However, I get SOOO tired of hearing people say how we shouldn't complain because we get every federal holiday off, a week off at Christmas and in the spring, and then summers off. Well, yes, this is true, BUT we do not get paid for our time off in the summer. If you average the hours I work every week, it comes out to more hours than if I worked a "regular" 40-hour week job, 50 weeks a year (allowing for 2 weeks of vacation). I teach because I know I am making a difference in the lives of young people. I put a lot of time and effort into what I do. I just wish people had more respect for our profession. I dated a guy who was VERY resentful of our days "off" . . . and had NOTHING good to say about what I did for a living. Needless to say, he is not around anymore! I wanted him to do my job for a week and see what he had to say then!!! lol Anyhow, a BIG thanks to those of you on this site who are supportive and appreciative of what we do for children!

You teachers deserve a lot for the responsibility you carry.

Unfortunately, the NC legislature isn't generous to employees. You need to consider this before moving here.

[CarolinaTeacher]

Originally Posted by saturnfan

You teachers deserve a lot for the responsibility you carry.

Unfortunately, the NC legislature isn't generous to employees. You need to consider this before moving here.

Yep, I moved to NC 4 years ago . . . not really sorry that I did because there is job security here. However, not sure I'll stay around forever either!!!