Incorrecto.

Committee chairmen are appointed by the MEC Chair (unlike the fNWA method of the MEC electing them, with some exceptions). Nor is the MEC Chair elected by the membership, making the commitee people twice removed from the people actually funding their operation.

The MEC Chair is appointed by the elected LEC Reps

Thus the way to flush the commitee people is to get rid of the MEC Chair, which is done by replacing the LEC reps.

There might be some collateral damage. Bummer. But to think that one guy can't do as good a job as the next, AND be aligned with your particular view as to union service is hubris.

And we're not just talking about medical coverage. If you think that, you haven't been paying attention.

If you get a few dozen smart guys like Clamp, a few expert wordsmiths and couple of guys who REALLY know their way around the ALPA By-Laws and Robert's Rules of Order, you would see a show worth watching.

Nu

 

Touche...flyby.....

 

Delta is self insured. UHC is paid to administer the plan. ALPA gets briefed every year (June) on the following year's health care plan rate development (required for the contractual plans (DPMP and Option N)). The numbers in the rate development aren't public, but health care costs Delta a lot of money. It is not a profit center.

 

I'm willing to bet that Major hasn't seen the pilot seat of an F-18 since then, haha.

Freaking awesome, though.

 

Thanks for answering the above. You answered while I was typing.
Again, this hinges on the question of whether our UHC coverage is actually a self funded plan by Delta (which is covered under ERISA) or an insurance plan which is regulated by State law (in which you can tell them to pound sand).

ERISA has been so manipulated by lobbyists that yes, they have a right of recovery and the Supremes went along with the very anti-consumer legislation.

A more sensible approach to insurance recovery is "if you pay for it, it is yours." If the insurer receives premium and agrees to the risk, then they should pay claims without looking after the fact for a collateral source to offset their obligation.

Can you imagine going to Wendy's and paying for a double cheeseburger. They give you your sandwich, then just as you take a bite some guy in a paper hat runs down your car and demands a meat patty back because he thinks you might have also bought a McDonald's Quarter Pounder earlier in the day. His logic, like the insurers, is that you've already gotten your meat at one place, so they are taking theirs back (despite the fact you paid for both).

Unrelated question ... As an ALPA member, could I make a representational request to see the insuring agreement? Why is this document "top secret" along with everything else about the plan? IMHO it is tremendously arrogant and callous to not provide us open access to this document.

 

Slow is correct. It was the same at NWA.

I seem to recall that we get a mailing every year with regards to the contractually required health plans. I'd have to dig into my files to find the last one.

It was a lot of coin. A LOT.

One wonders if buying a heath care company would save money, in the same way as buying a refinery would be for fuel.

Nu

 

You actually stated in here why it is such an incredible uphill battle- we don't vote on any of the committee people or the chair, which is redonkulous. And recalling the reps to effect change? You've got to do that at every base. It's a system that is set up to resist change, particularly at DALPA.

I'm all for effecting the change and getting the ball moving. I've got my card in at the DPA, but I don't think anything is going to come of it. Rally those guys together and you could whitewash the current stalwart generation.

 

Walmart does. Not kidding.

 

As Clamp and others represented by ALPA attest to, UHC simply stinks.
Do we ever ask for a change in the plan administrator?

 

Yes, but Delta (or any company) that offers a group health care plan gets huge tax credits with the gov.