We had to go to a benefits meeting today where we were told simply that the company can't cover their end of the insurance anymore (or at least not as much as they did) so our rates are going to go up starting July 1st. Our insurance (covering me and hubby) are going from $35.50/pay to $120/pay! Now, I'll be honest..no one could believe the good price our new company offered last year (they had just bought the old company I worked for) and the coverage is VERY good! Only $500 deductible for the 2 of us and they cover everything only doctors visits have a $20.00 co-pay. So, I really can't complain...just now we have to readjust our budget. I feel REALLY bad for some people that have coverage for them and more than 1 child. It went from $57.00/pay to almost $300! We are having some people seriously looking for other jobs because this, on top of moving the company 15 miles away from where most people live, with the price of gas today it's getting to expensive to work there.
This is what I REALLY don't think is fair though. The old company didn't offer health benefits unless the employee was fulltime (40 hrs/wk). When the new company took over, they opened up benefits and considered anyone scheduled 32 hours or over full time for benefit purposes (still no vacation though). So, we had quite a few people who were married (some with kids) that realized this insurance was more affordable than their spouses so they signed the family up, and the spouses dropped their insurance. Now, anything under 40 scheduled hours is NOT considered full time and not eligible for benefits...but they will supply info for COBRA insurence since their coverage will end July 1st. They said they don't think they can afford COBRA, and their spouse can't get back on their company insurance until their next open season. I personally think it stinks that they did that. Especially since the first changes with the new rates and 32 hour eligible only went into effect last August! It was like, they bought the company, appeased the employes, then screwed us in a 5 minute meeting. And, we didn't even get dinner out of it!!
Just wanted to vent.
This is what I REALLY don't think is fair though. The old company didn't offer health benefits unless the employee was fulltime (40 hrs/wk). When the new company took over, they opened up benefits and considered anyone scheduled 32 hours or over full time for benefit purposes (still no vacation though). So, we had quite a few people who were married (some with kids) that realized this insurance was more affordable than their spouses so they signed the family up, and the spouses dropped their insurance. Now, anything under 40 scheduled hours is NOT considered full time and not eligible for benefits...but they will supply info for COBRA insurence since their coverage will end July 1st. They said they don't think they can afford COBRA, and their spouse can't get back on their company insurance until their next open season. I personally think it stinks that they did that. Especially since the first changes with the new rates and 32 hour eligible only went into effect last August! It was like, they bought the company, appeased the employes, then screwed us in a 5 minute meeting. And, we didn't even get dinner out of it!!
Just wanted to vent.