LOL, it's funny (yet sad), because it's true.

 

Says the guy that doesn't have Tricare. You see....one man's trash.....

 

Who says we can’t achieve something better than Tricare? Is it the gold standard of healthcare?

 

Yes it is.

 

Then something similar or better should be our goal for everyone else.

 

My wife is a waitress here in Illinois. She has BCBS insurance and the premium for a family of 4 is $30 a month. Dr visits are $20 copay or $40 for a specialist. Meds are $5-10 copay. It’s fantastic insurance compared to our choices at DAL. It’s actually provided by her union.

I don’t know if because our pilot employees span every one of the 50 states, if that makes it harder to get a good plan like this, but I’d like to see any extra money, not in the form of pay or DC increases to go towards a much better plan with much lower premiums, and include all retirees. That would help everyone and reduce the huge burden of medical costs on retirees until Medicare kicks in.

I’d like to retire at 55, if I can afford it, but medical costs until Medicare kicks in (63 I think?), will be my biggest obstacle.

I don’t want to see a DB plan again, and an annuity is a hell no, but I agree that not looking into it would be irresponsible for our reps. I’d be willing to donate $100 with everyone else, if our political affairs people wanted to lobby Capitol Hill to raise 415(c) limits or push for legislation that allowed us to save more per year for retirement.

Just my thoughts. It can’t be impossible to find a way to help everyone with healthcare costs. And for retirees, it would offset a huge burden in retirement. I like the plan mentioned giving us a credit for the DPMP if you have better insurance available, you take the money, and if you use the DPMP, it’s nothing, or very little, out of pocket. If we make sure retirees are included until Medicare (if someone wants to retire early) is available and even after 63 to help with part D insurance, everyone benefits.

 

I agree with most of this. I came from a regional with phenomenal healthcare plans. No, I don’t want to go back there but every time I think about what I had I get more disappointed in Delta's plans. They leave way too much on the table that we must cover. As our ranks begin the slow transition to a mostly non-military group, I foresee this becoming a critical item very soon.

 

One glaring item missing from this discussion is the fact that many of the pilots fall into the "accredited investor" category. Those closest to retirement and clamoring most for a DB are those most likely to be in this group. This opens up investment options outside of the control of Delta, ALPA, Fidelity or Wall Street in general. All options presented and discussed so far fall under limited control of one or all of the above.

It behooves all of us to become familiar with ALL options available. Investing in real estate, private placement offerings, oil wells, etc should be under consideration. Relying on Delta, ALPA or any financial institution as your sole source of retirement is foolish. IMHO, we are better off stopping our retirement negotiation at 20% DC, so we hit the annual 55K limit. Put remaining negotiating capital into take-home pay for outside investment, better health care options and work rule improvements.

 

Yeah and everyone says a single payer system does not work. But tricare is a perfct example of a single payer system that provides good health care at reasonable costs.....

I guess many dont see that.

 

You honestly believe a system designed for a few million active/retired military personnel would be as successful if applied to a country of over 300M people? I’m happy and grateful it’s successful for the military but it would be a nightmare for a country of our size.