[Vision2020] ID Public Records Law: UI

[Saundra Lund]

One little correction  :-)

The Plan H family deductible is $2300.



Saundra Lund
Moscow, ID

Until we have the courage to recognize cruelty for what it is -- whether its
victim is human or animal -- we cannot expect things to be much better in
this world.
~ Rachel Carson

-----Original Message-----
From: Rosemary [mailto:donaldrose at cpcinternet.com] 
Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 4:14 PM
To: 'Paul Rumelhart'; 'Wayne Price'
Cc: 'Saundra Lund'; 'Moscow Vision 2020'
Subject: RE: [Vision2020] ID Public Records Law: UI

Hello Paul, Wayne and V2020 readers,

Thank you, Wayne, for your explanation to Paul. You nailed it!  Paul, while
you as a single person with a very comfortable salary are doing well on Plan
H, please consider how you might experience health care on a $20,000
custodial salary with a spouse and child. Plan H, the only remotely
affordable insurance plan, has I believe, a $2200 per family deductible.
(Saundra, correct me if I am wrong about that deductible.) Lets consider a
hypothetical UI employee making 53,000 per year who was assessed 10% of
his/her salary as a front end deductible.  Do you suppose that a $5,300 bill
before health care coverage kicked in might excite a greater interest in the
state-wide group plan shared by other universities?  Further, since the
majority of physicians in this town, particularly the Family Practice docs
and the Doc In A Box Walk-In clinics require payment in full payment at the
time of service the working poor, as many UI employees are, must meet this
meet this outrageously high deductible or pay cash for needed medical care.
Surely, Paul, you don't think that the UI financial wizards changed
insurance plans for the good of UI employees?  BTW, in sharp contrast to the
UI, the universities participating in the statewide insurance pool are
transparent regarding premium costs and benefits. Take a look at those sites
for further information.

Of course we have asked about plan participant numbers, the number of claims
etc.  The university has not responded to our questions.  And, why would
they?  The answers are not going to enhance the reputation of the school or
support their specious claim that the UI cares about their employees in a
meaningful way.  The Wellness Scam (I think the official justification for
that involuntary payroll deduction is that it would lower insurance
premiums) is another UI cash cow. Where are those dollars going?  How are
they being used?  Who knows.  I didn't even receive an acknowledgment, let
alone an answer, to the P.R. request I made two weeks ago regarding that
program.  

Just so you are clear about my interest in this issue, Paul.  I don't work
at UI, and I have excellent insurance coverage.  In a sense, I don't have a
dog in this fight, except, I've never been willing to stand by and watch
school yard bullies run the show.

Rosemary Huskey 




-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Rumelhart [mailto:godshatter at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 2:30 PM
To: Wayne Price
Cc: Saundra Lund; Moscow Vision 2020; Rosemary Rose Huskey
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] ID Public Records Law: UI

Wayne Price wrote:
> Paul,
>
> I think the point that Saundra and Rosemary were trying to make is 
> that here on the hill (U of I) we pay 191.00 per pay period ( 26 x 
> 191=$4,966.00 per year) for the same type of coverage that LCSC  or 
> anyone in the state insurance fund pays  1,308.00 for!   (12x 
> 109=$1,308.00). Now, where is the EXTRA  $3,658.00 going? And if ONLY 
> 1,000 of the employees are getting that type of insurance from  U of 
> I, that means $3,658.000.00 OVER.   Based on the track record of the U 
> of I, I sure as hell don't think they are responsible enough to be let 
> loose with a slush fund paid into by the employees!  Does "Idaho 
> Place", ring a bell?  Something stinks with the current program, and 
> I'm hoping someone or some organization (Faculty Senate?) can get some 
> answers to these questions from the HBT!

I'm not trying to be antagonistic here, but I'm skeptical that the UI 
has raked in an extra $3.5 million on the health plan.  Where does the 
$191 per pay period number come from?  Which plan, what options?  Has 
anyone asked for numbers of participants per plan?  I don't know if we 
can get these numbers, but it would be nice to know what LCSC pays 
average per employee compared to the U of I.  That might be something we 
can sink our teeth into.

I'd just like to see some firmer numbers.

>
> And that $5.00 dollar fitness tax is also a joke! When are the run of 
> the mill employees supposed to use those facilities?  Who has time to 
> take off DURING THE DAY and get down to the gym?  Or, is it a "hidden" 
> benefit that employees can and do take off and use the gym during 
> working hours?

I'm with you on the wellness amount.  I don't use their facilities, and 
if I did I wouldn't mind paying extra for it.  I used to do that.

Paul


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