Cigna Question
 

Is the Cigna Plan an "open access" plan? Doctor won't let us schedule unless its an open access Cigna plan.

Open access just means do you need a referral. Can’t speak to all plans but regular plan doesn’t require a referral = open access.

Yes. The reg does not require referrals. Cigna is having some difficulties understanding the reg plan.

The Aetna/Cigna transition is running into a lot of issues. Between them denying coverage and SWA deciding to clamp down on their pharmacy formulary, our medical benefits are being swiftly eroded.

I have had issues getting claims paid for doctors visits for "services not covered". I got the union paid bulldog involved and she got them reversed after I made several calls to the benefits line and got fed completely false information. An expensive medication that was covered last year for my wife is no longer covered.

Other pilots are running into issues with getting medically necessary (in some cases emergency) imaging covered, pediatric insulin pumps covered, and several other issues that were previously not a problem.

My suggestion for anyone running into issues is to contact Resolute Heath Advisors through the union benefits website. She will get you the results you need.

Thanks guys.

Regular Plan Vs Benefits Plus
 

I currently have Tricare Reserve Select for my family. I have heard people saying since I have Tricare it would be wiser to go with the Regular Plan vs Benefits Plus. Thoughts?

Have any kids with special medical needs? Spouse have special medical needs? Sometimes this calls for Benefits plan.

Compare premiums for your family on the Benefits Plus vs. deductible and max out of pocket on the Regular plan. My former spouse had a total knee replacement on the Regular plan. No issues.

Regular plan plus Tricare reserve select is a gold plated plan. Do it

This. You will wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

There are very few things that benefits plus covers that the regular plan doesn't.

Thanks for all the replies! Sounds like regular plus Tricare reserve select is the way to go!

Yep, as a general rule of thumb, it's almost always better to go with the regular plan. There are a few exceptions, so you'd need to look into the details to determine if you are one of the exceptions.

And, as a general rule of thumb, it would be better that our pilot group pull itself up by its bootstraps and use our leverage to negotiate low or no-cost health insurance plans that fully cover the medical needs of ourselves and our families rather than relying on the kindheartedness of our corporate executives to get the job done. Depending on overlords to take care of a group of people hasn't seemed to work out well historically. Look at Venezuela and Cuba.

Are you talking about the same health insurance the C suits in HQ have ? Might I remind you that you are just a plumber/ cost unit. This place would not be in in business if not for the C suits . Grab your muffin from the hotel , shut your pie hole and get to work .

we get muffins?

It's a long story.

Maybe a NetJets guy can chime in, but I understand they have no-cost medical for them and the family.

I feel bad for our NC though. Unless they knock my socks off with what comes out in the first AIP/TA, I'm spring loaded to vote NO, and if UAL's rumored AIP is any indication, it'll be an easier NO than TA2.

Yes. Well not exactly, you need to steal them from the hotel :)


Ask someone about th muffin man, you will get the story.

I don’t see how anyone will vote yes on the first iteration compared to last time.

Yes, at NutJets there is excellent health coverage. 0.0% employee contribution, low copays and no deductibles out of pocket except for prescriptions, and that was very low. Coverage acceptance was never a problem but doctors did find ways to side bill you, but still it was really good coverage.
​​​​​​​I had 2 major rotator cuff surgeries and a cut achilles and they were, combined, under $700 out of pocket. It would be good for our NC to talk to them, maybe get some angles on it.

It was good coverage, but it was not no-cost -- it was no premium. I'm sure that's what you meant, but there were still deductibles and co-pays, which could be very significant if you wanted to see an out-of-network doctor. I'm on the Regular Plan at SWA now, and it's very comparable. Out-of-network coverage is actually better on the Regular Plan than it was with my Netjets plan.

I ended up signing up for one of the Choice Plans and am just now finding out the exclusions on the Regular Plan were really things that we weren't going to use anyways. I'll make some changes in November. Too bad those online seminars came after the signup deadline.

The company wants you on Choice Plans because they're far cheaper FOR THEM. Regular Plan is by far the most expensive for them and you can literally pay for any elective stuff simply on what you save in monthly premiums. For the vast majority, the Regular Plan is a no-brainer.

Yep. 100%.

For example, the Regular Plan doesn’t cover most vaccinations, like the shingles vaccine. It costs anywhere from $250 to $400, which is, I think, less than one month’s premium on the Choice plan.

Our county health department, vaccines are $15 if you can afford to pay that.

Which county is that? Might be worth flying in for.

That’s right about some things not being covered—if you are alone or only cover one person maybe choice isn’t a bad way to go, but add up those premiums vs regular plan out of pocket costs.

My wife’s cancer treatments plus the birth of our kid (it was a big year) cost us…drumroll please….2500 bucks out of pocket (I also have Tricare so I guess you could add 229/mo for that). Less than 5 g’s on healthcare for a family.

The end of year “we love you but actually this is how much you cost us you damn plumber” thing had our healthcare costs north of 1m bucks for that year.

Our county is free for vaccines for under/uninsured (which the RP is for vaccines) with donations accepted.

Nice. Cheapest shingles vaccine I could find was $250 through our county health department.

I don’t think I’m old enough for a shingles vax so I’d have to check to see if that’s free also. The kids’ recommended shots were free…pediatrician ran out insurance it it was a few hundred for both kids.

Douglas County in Colorado. They are free here too. They just ask if you can pay $15. We obviously can and do.