Benefits At Wn
- Thread starter JetMech
- Start date
Airmech737
Member
- Jun 10, 2003
- 29
- 0
Rates doubled this year...
I have the HMO/Dental plan and vision coverage. These rates are for each check (twice a month). Oh yeah, this is family coverage.
Here are the rates from my check:
Vision: $ 5.62
Medical: $ 11.25
There may be many things people say about WN, but you do hear complaints about this issue overall.
I have the HMO/Dental plan and vision coverage. These rates are for each check (twice a month). Oh yeah, this is family coverage.
Here are the rates from my check:
Vision: $ 5.62
Medical: $ 11.25
There may be many things people say about WN, but you do hear complaints about this issue overall.
The cost may have doubled, but that's still dirt cheap, especially for a family rate!Airmech737 said:
Just for a non-airline comparison, I pay $15.93 biweekly, medical only (NO dental, limited vision), myself only. And that is one of the cheaper plans offered.
WNrforlife
Senior
- Apr 17, 2003
- 444
- 3
Yeah, it's cheap -
But what they don't tell you is with the HMO that we use, the doctors are "multi-taskers", for lack of a better word.
For example, my dentist is also my proctologist. Luckily, he practices dentistry in the morning......
But what they don't tell you is with the HMO that we use, the doctors are "multi-taskers", for lack of a better word.
For example, my dentist is also my proctologist. Luckily, he practices dentistry in the morning......
Talk about a comprehensive exam!WNrforlife said:Yeah, it's cheap -
But what they don't tell you is with the HMO that we use, the doctors are "multi-taskers", for lack of a better word.
For example, my dentist is also my proctologist. Luckily, he practices dentistry in the morning......
Cute, WNrforlife.
Actually, last time I checked, our HMO is actually an EPO. An Exclusive Provider Organization, is what I think it means. I thought it was this way in all our cities? It's like a hybrid between an HMO and a PPO. You don't have to go through your primary care physician to get a referral to a specialist, but the specialist you select MUST be in the network. To be honest, all the doctors that I've used, specialists included have been great and top of the line.
You also have the option of the PPO, but the co-pay costs are based on a percentage and are usually higher. There's also about a $250 deductible. I used the PPO for a while, and because I also used the healthcare spending account, I had minimal spending pains. But the HMO/EPO is admittedly less out of pocket costs.
As I'm single, I have nothing taken out of my paycheck for the HMO. You will have more taken out of your paycheck if you have a non-Southwest spouse and dependents. I pay a $15 co-pay for a primary care physician, and $25 for a specialist. Has that rate gone higher from years past? Of course, but given the incredible rising heathcare and prescription drugs, you can't ask Southwest to eat all of it. Compared to the three other jobs I've worked, Southwest by far has the best healthcare plan. And if you compare it to the other airlines, I think you'll find the same. I pay a relatively small amount for vision care and dental, and I only pay for dental because I choose the "higher coverage" version of the plan. Even then, it's a pretty negligable amount, IMHO.
Let me put it this way...I used to have $88 a month deducted from my paycheck for medical at my previous job. Not dental, not vision, just basic medical. And the co-pays for both the office visits and prescriptions were still obnoxious.
Not to disrespect anyone, but if you feel you're paying too much for Southwest medical, check out some of the other jobs out there, especially jobs like school teachers. KCFlyer is right on this one. If you were to do a dollar-for-dollar comparison with most other jobs in the market, even other airlines, I think you'd find we have a pretty sweet deal going.
Actually, last time I checked, our HMO is actually an EPO. An Exclusive Provider Organization, is what I think it means. I thought it was this way in all our cities? It's like a hybrid between an HMO and a PPO. You don't have to go through your primary care physician to get a referral to a specialist, but the specialist you select MUST be in the network. To be honest, all the doctors that I've used, specialists included have been great and top of the line.
You also have the option of the PPO, but the co-pay costs are based on a percentage and are usually higher. There's also about a $250 deductible. I used the PPO for a while, and because I also used the healthcare spending account, I had minimal spending pains. But the HMO/EPO is admittedly less out of pocket costs.
As I'm single, I have nothing taken out of my paycheck for the HMO. You will have more taken out of your paycheck if you have a non-Southwest spouse and dependents. I pay a $15 co-pay for a primary care physician, and $25 for a specialist. Has that rate gone higher from years past? Of course, but given the incredible rising heathcare and prescription drugs, you can't ask Southwest to eat all of it. Compared to the three other jobs I've worked, Southwest by far has the best healthcare plan. And if you compare it to the other airlines, I think you'll find the same. I pay a relatively small amount for vision care and dental, and I only pay for dental because I choose the "higher coverage" version of the plan. Even then, it's a pretty negligable amount, IMHO.
Let me put it this way...I used to have $88 a month deducted from my paycheck for medical at my previous job. Not dental, not vision, just basic medical. And the co-pays for both the office visits and prescriptions were still obnoxious.
Not to disrespect anyone, but if you feel you're paying too much for Southwest medical, check out some of the other jobs out there, especially jobs like school teachers. KCFlyer is right on this one. If you were to do a dollar-for-dollar comparison with most other jobs in the market, even other airlines, I think you'd find we have a pretty sweet deal going.
More Facts and Less Emotion
Member
- Feb 10, 2004
- 79
- 0
Anything under $200 a month for a family is cheap compared to a lot of jobs elsewhere.
I know a guy that works for a small company and he has to pay $550 a month for himself, his wife and one child. WOW, I can't imagine.
I know a guy that works for a small company and he has to pay $550 a month for himself, his wife and one child. WOW, I can't imagine.
jimntx
Veteran
Before I was furloughed, I was paying (I think) about $38/mo for medical (PPO) and $17/mo for dental, and I'm single. The PPO was 20% co-pay on negotiated lower rates and had a $150 annual deductible. The dental had a $150 annual deductible and a yearly maximum of $1000, which one crown will just about wipe out in this day and age.
By traditional insurance practices, I should have been paying less than the WN people because AMR has a much larger "group". Just goes to show what effective negotiating by the company with suppliers can do.
By traditional insurance practices, I should have been paying less than the WN people because AMR has a much larger "group". Just goes to show what effective negotiating by the company with suppliers can do.
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #10
Southwest mechanics complain about that rate???? Alot of carriers are much much more. Out of curiosity...how many mechanics do you guys have currently at Southwest? I am a USairways mechanic. Th robber barons tell us you have around 1500 mechanics and you pay "alot" for benefits. From what I can see .......they lie!!!
Airmech737
Member
- Jun 10, 2003
- 29
- 0
Southwest mechanics were not complaining about these rates. I was answering a question and stating that the rate just doubled. You can take from that last year, my cost was 1/2 of today's rates.
As for how many, as of Feb 12 (newest seniority list) we had 1538. That is mechanics, leads, inspectors and support equip mechanics.
As for the cost of our benefits, no that are not expensive at all. And we (mechanics) do not have a pension. We have 401k and profit sharing. The 401k is matched by the company dollar for dollar up to 7.3% of any pay. Profitsharing is based on income for the year. Last year it was 5% or so, can't remeber for sure. But the previous two years were 14 and 11 percent. Vesting in 5 years and pay top out is 5 years.
As for how many, as of Feb 12 (newest seniority list) we had 1538. That is mechanics, leads, inspectors and support equip mechanics.
As for the cost of our benefits, no that are not expensive at all. And we (mechanics) do not have a pension. We have 401k and profit sharing. The 401k is matched by the company dollar for dollar up to 7.3% of any pay. Profitsharing is based on income for the year. Last year it was 5% or so, can't remeber for sure. But the previous two years were 14 and 11 percent. Vesting in 5 years and pay top out is 5 years.
johnny gearpin
Member
AirMech737,
Thanks for the information. I do hope you add to the ranks this year Do you have an idea what starting wage would be for A&P? Mids for shift differential and any license premiums?
Regards,
Johnny Gearpin
Thanks for the information. I do hope you add to the ranks this year
Do you have an idea what starting wage would be for A&P? Mids for shift differential and any license premiums? Regards,
Johnny Gearpin
Airmech737
Member
- Jun 10, 2003
- 29
- 0
Our entire contract with payscales, differentials, premiums are available at
www.amfa11.com
www.amfa11.com
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