Go Back  Airline Pilot Central Forums > Airline Pilot Forums > Major > Southwest
Southwest Health Insurance >

Southwest Health Insurance

Notices

Southwest Health Insurance

Old 09-12-2015, 09:13 AM
  #1  
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
 
FLY6584's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: 737 right
Posts: 755
Default Southwest Health Insurance

I have a few questions regarding health insurance at Southwest...

First off I am trying to time my two weeks notice at my current company so that there is no break in health insurance for my family. I received a CJO on Sep 2, but still have not heard back regarding a class date so I'm expecting a class date sometime in November. My question is if you start class in November when will your health insurance take effect?

Secondly I saw in another thread someone talking about a free plan and a plan that costs about $300 a month at Southwest. Does anyone have anymore details about the plans available at Southwest?

Thanks!
FLY6584 is offline  
Old 09-12-2015, 09:49 AM
  #2  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Oct 2011
Posts: 374
Default

Fly,
You should be covered from day 1 at swa and if memory serves you have 30 days to elect which plan you want. The best source of info is the swapa benefits people, NOT the company benefits dept.

If you elect no medical (use wife's ins. or tricare for mil) you will get a $50 kickback per month.

The premiums have been rising to the point that for most people, the choice plan you referenced is no longer the best for most pilots. Take a hard look at the regular plan! The health savings plan HSP is also a good choice but with a very high max out of pocket probably is better suited to guys in the left seat who can afford a bit more risk.
Stitches is offline  
Old 09-12-2015, 10:46 AM
  #3  
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
 
FLY6584's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: 737 right
Posts: 755
Default

Thank you for the info. What can you tell me about the regular plan? Cost? Out of pocket? Etc.

I VSP'd so I do not have tricare and my wife is still in school so we have to go with a company plan for our family of 3.
FLY6584 is offline  
Old 09-12-2015, 10:52 AM
  #4  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,374
Default

Agree with Stitches. You are covered from 12:01am the day you start. Regular plan is zero dollars and is a traditional health insurance plan, not a HMO. It does not cover preventive medical, though, so all those checkups you will have to negotiate with your health care provider for the walk up rate. The company benefits people won't steer you towards this plan, they will talk up the BenefitsPlus HMO stuff. Lots of pilots love the regular plan though. It gives you good coverage and the price is right. Almost everyone who uses it comes out way ahead of paying the premium and copays for the HMO.
I don't really know much about the HSA, but that is an option as well.

I am a military guy, so I take the dental and vision for my family at around 40 a month and they pay me 50 a month to carry my own health insurance.

Here is an older pamphlet. The prices for benefitsplus have probably gone up a little since this was published.

http://www.iam141.org/contract/pdfs/...tGuide2013.pdf
e6bpilot is offline  
Old 09-12-2015, 04:04 PM
  #5  
Gets Weekends Off
 
DAL73n's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: 737n/FO
Posts: 667
Default

[QUOTE=FLY6584;1969604]I have a few questions regarding health insurance at Southwest...

First off I am trying to time my two weeks notice at my current company so that there is no break in health insurance for my family. I received a CJO on Sep 2, but still have not heard back regarding a class date so I'm expecting a class date sometime in November. My question is if you start class in November when will your health insurance take effect?

Secondly I saw in another thread someone talking about a free plan and a plan that costs about $300 a month at Southwest. Does anyone have anymore details about the plans available at Southwest?

Thanks![/QUOTEs]

If you can't time it just right and do have a gap you have some options:

1. Take COBRA from your old company - that will require you to pay the whole premium (not just your share of the actual premium) but if it is only a couple of weeks it shouldn't be too bad.

2. You can also (if you and the family are relatively healthy) buy a short term medical policy on the open market.

Good Luck and Pray you don't have to exercise either of the above options.
DAL73n is offline  
Old 09-13-2015, 04:31 AM
  #6  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Nov 2013
Posts: 187
Default

If I recall correctly, only the EMPLOYEE is covered at 12:01am on date of hire. Dependants are not covered until you enroll them... which you can do within the first day or so after starting class.
KPer is offline  
Old 09-13-2015, 07:22 AM
  #7  
Furloughed Again?!
 
ZapBrannigan's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: Boeing 737
Posts: 4,781
Default

Not true. Whole family is covered on day one.

COBRA by the way can be purchased retroactively. I/E if the kid breaks his arm, you can apply for Cobra THEN. So you don't need to pay for it unless you need it.
ZapBrannigan is offline  
Old 09-13-2015, 08:10 AM
  #8  
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
 
FLY6584's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: 737 right
Posts: 755
Default

I'm just thinking if I can get my company to call my last day with them November 1st and I'm willing to pay my normal monthly payment through them without them paying me at all for the month of November then I can work it to have no break in coverage.
FLY6584 is offline  
Old 09-13-2015, 08:27 AM
  #9  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Beechnut58's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jan 2013
Position: 190 FO
Posts: 406
Default

I don't work for SW....BUT just so you know, your current company's medical plan will remain in effect until the next month...so if you gave your 2 weeks notice on October 1st you're still covered under your current medical plan until October 31st.

This should give you plenty of time to enroll in a new plan and get coverage with no gaps.
Beechnut58 is offline  
Old 09-13-2015, 09:37 AM
  #10  
Strike averted!
 
at6d's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Mar 2015
Position: B737
Posts: 3,589
Default

So here's a question. At my corporate gig, I pay $600/month for family coverage with a *choke* reasonable deductible and so-so insurance.

What's a realistic monthly cost at SWA for a family (non-military)?
at6d is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
CaptainBigWood
American
11
03-26-2016 12:30 PM
Purple Drank
Major
0
10-02-2014 04:07 PM
CRJAV8OR
Major
0
03-08-2012 09:07 AM
beetlehog
Foreign
1
02-24-2012 07:52 AM
Counselor
Regional
26
08-19-2009 06:57 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Your Privacy Choices