That makes sense. The buy-up is definitely the lowest risk option. You're going to motivate me to look up what they consider "preventative," since I don't actually know.

Let us know if you find anything enlightening. It seems like a lot of work to research, and in my case, since I can see retirement in the not too far future, not worth the potential risk and uncertainty for a possible small gain. I guess if you were a young person with little health care costs, you could save a bundle.

A family member of mine (who is older) has one of the consumer driven plans that FedEx forced upon the nonunion employees. She said it has cost them a lot more money over the years, however, they utilize their medical quite a bit.

Buy up for us as well. Maybe change to new plan after "growing pains" of the new plan are done but we will see. Very healthy & not worth the complete pain in the arse it is to learn the new program. We have a total of 5 of us & it can always get sideways in a hurry with kids.

For anyone interested. Here is a link to Anthem's list of preventative healthcare dated from Feb 2015.

https://www11.anthem.com/provider/no...er=ahpprovider

Thanks for that list, Laker. From just a brief scan of it, I see some things missing that have been important to me. Many of the blood tests I take, a colonoscopy when it is no longer a screening tool (ie they've found something), and you only get the shingles shot over 60. I believe the buy up plan pays for it over 50, and it's a pricey shot. If you're over 50, and know insurance will cover it, get it!!

An issue for me is that I know what my insurance will cover now, there is no interpretation or surprises. But if I change my insurance, will there be some unexpected surprises? I just don't want to wait and find out. Maybe, like kc10, we'll wait and see how it all shakes out.

We have always had the Buy Up family plan and it seems the 'safe' option because we're familiar with it.

After looking at the options, it would now seem the Purple (family) plan is better. I have read on this forum that as long as your not sick a lot or something catastrophic doesn't happen, you are okay with Purple. That doesn't seem to agree with what I'm reading. The max out of pocket is less with Purple than Buy Up and it's cheaper and you get to keep money if you don't use it all.

So, what is the catch with Purple? Where is the downside? I just don't see it.

What am I missing?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong (I'm sure someone will?) but I thought the contractual rework of ur insurance options were mutually agreed to by both ALPA and FDX BECAUSE our current buy-up plan would be subject to significant "Cadillac Plan" taxes. Thank you very much President Obama and your "Affordable Care Act."

If I recall correctly ... ALL HEALTHCARE COSTS (company paid premiums, employee paid premiums, vision and dental benefits) are lumped into a big bucket together. If the total of all the premiums is over $XYZ dollars, the amount over is subject to significant taxes!

As for my own personal healthcare, My wife and I have had hundreds of thousands of $$ in healthcare costs the past few years. I haven't yet reviewed all of the options in detail but I suspect I'll be better off paying the taxes for the buy-up plan.

This is important stuff ... Let the buyer be ware!

There's a lot of nice things in the purple plan. I attended a benefits seminar and that definitely helped explain it. But it's a new concept, and people fear different.

It's not just people fearing different. Being suspicious has come upon us honestly. You don't really think these new consumer driven health care plans forced upon the rest of the company and offered to us are just deals offered to give us more choices, do you?

What are the odds that next contract, there will be a huge push to get rid of the buy up plan? And we'll have to trade something away to keep it.

I hope management doesn't tell us it's too expensive, and then draws a line in the sand.