The city's Board of Finance last night approved the plan to dump Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. It was an easy call, fiscal overseers said, because saving $1 million annually in these times is well worth the inconvenience it may cause some employees who may need to find a new dentist or doctor after July 1.
I know it's hard for city workers to contemplate a change, but since we've had more insurance companies than I can remember over the years doing the Press policy, I can assure them that they'll be fine. It's just a pain to wade into a new plan and to figure out what's different. At least city workers keep exactly the same benefits. That's the aspect that's usually most painful!
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
23 comments:
Has anyone seen any documentation that backs up the savings?
It is amazing that they could come up with this literally overnight.
Or did they?
How come this was all done in secret?
Was it brought up at any meeting?
And it seems like there are two different stories regarding computer failure.
What gives?
the city is going to save $1 million on just by changing insurance carriers? Yet coverage will not be compromised? I don't think they know what they're talking about- of course coverage is going to be sacrificed.
there is more to this than what is being reported. Another issue being controlled by the personnel director and controller with Artie hiding behind them. Why didn't they think of these cost savings last year? BECAUSE....it was an election year. How totally irresponsible and typical.
Wonder what the union thinks of their boy wonder Ward now?
Be careful of what you pray for.
Why aren't their copays going up like everyone elses' in America? Do they still have $5 copays for pharmacy and doctors? Do they even have deductibles?
Why aren't the Republicans raising questions on this issue?
hope that all of you naysayers need root canals that affect the sensitive areas surrounding where your brain was and that your fangs are whittled down to be used as 2 x 4's for construction of your updated double-wide trailers.
What ever happened to Wards monthly reporting of fuel oil?
Or was that a one tome PR effort like his planned use of GPS to monitor workers?
Any follow up to either?
About time the insurance companies are under the gun. These guys on here want your money and they sell insurance. Not supposed to touch these bloodsuckers.
hope that all of you naysayers need root canals that affect the sensitive areas surrounding where your brain was and that your fangs are whittled down to be used as 2 x 4's for construction of your updated double-wide trailers.
Yea, cause that's constructive conversation. Or is our memory's so short term that we forget that when Bristol Hospital pulled out from Anthem they said the city should follow suit.
We'll we can tell who is the catcher in this relationship now huh?
Mr klocko it`s only 329,000 don`t tell the taxpayer it`s 1,000,000 it should be time to start being honest with the taxpayer don`t try to sugar coat eveything klocko and ferguson need to go they wanted her out a few years ago and also had the votes.
This about this. Had they done this 5 years ago they would have already saved 5 million dollars. Is that why they are laughing at the taxpayers getting ready to increase taxes? Was this John Smith's plan all along?
Like it or not the language in the city's bargaining agreements states that the city may change health care providers but the new plan "MUST be EQUAL TO or BETTER THAN" the coverage it replaces - not "similar", "comparable",
"equivalent" or even just "EQUAL TO". Hard to believe a plan that makes you switch doctors, pay higher copays for sick visits and prescriptions and makes employees feel "a little pain" so the employer can receive "a lot of gain" (Klocko quote) can be considered "EQUAL TO" or "BETTER THAN". These incompetent baffoons (Klocko Furgeson and Ward) are going to make the taxpayers feel "a lot of pain" with this decision. Stay tuned.
she is taking care of the wright people she will be here for a long time. the men arent thinking with there brains.
Are we dealing with Klokos funny numbers again?
Too bad a few union people are joined at the hip with Artie.
All the others will be getting shafted.
The City is saving money. Instead of just saying "thanks guys," the same usual naysaying ninnies have to whine, bitch and moan coming up with their same usual baseless conjecture (insurance isn't gonna be as good, shoulda done it sooner, shoulda never done it, we're not saving as much as they say, it's a secret plot(???), union people are going to suffer, union people aren't suffering enough)...come on folks. Insurance companies shaft all of us. I'm glad that Bristol was able to find a better deal for us and go for it.
THANKS GUYS!
Yes 6they are its just the wrong head .
I think many of the contracts state "substantially equal" not "equal" when referring to the insurance coverage. I could be wrong, but either way this change is coming. I think a lengthy, multi-front lawsuit will emerge from each of the bargaining units.
change can't happen if it's not exactly to the letter of the union contract is my understanding. they can try all they want but my understanding is klocko and ferguson and probably ward did this all behind the union's back and then said this is it and oh yeah, it's exactly the same as what you have now only cheaper and you can't do a thing about it. apparently the unions are supposed to take their word for it. obviously something is fishy because they didn't let the union see it ahead of the finance board vote which means it's probably not the same. do we really want a mayor like this running our city that is that underhanded? sure there are people who don't like the unions but it can happen to anyone, not just the unions, especially if dept heads aren't willing to follow procedure. why the unions or anyone keep on backing Dictator Ward is beyond me. wake up, people! the fox has just invaded the hen house!!
And now you know why it is so difficult to for the city to negotiate with the unions.
With situations like this, done essentially without talking with the unions, discussions behind their back, it is no wonder they do not trust the city and sit down in good faith to negotiate.
Ward has set us back and is costing us money!
Article is misleading:
Benefits ARE NOT exactly the same, and savings, while appreciated are less than half of what the headline states
And that is before any expense to defend this action.
Lawyers, $$$
Lawyers, $$$
Lawyers, $$$
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