UPTE-CWA’s 2011 Benefits Advisor
THE FACTS:
  • UC’s Blue Cross Plus and Health Net plans increase by $50 to $175 per month (up to 274% increase).

  • This massive increase requires UC to bargain with UPTE-represented techs (TX) and researchers (RX). The union will advocate for UC to pick up more of the cost and decrease the amount employees are required to pay.

  • The new Health Net Blue and Gold plan will have same benefits as Health Net, but at higher cost and reduced provider network. UC has put out a list of providers that are included in the Blue and Gold network. We do not have a list of those that were eliminated, but we know for sure that Sutter, Alta Bates and Scripps are excluded.

  • Kaiser and WHA (Davis) premiums increase by about 6% (usually less than $10 per month).

  • Cigna changed to Anthem Lumens HRA (Health Reimbursement Account) with lower premiums but this plan stillencourages less health care instead of necessary health care.

ADVICE:

  • Review the costs and benefits carefully and select what is best for you.

  • If you are in Health Net, switch to Health Net Blue and Gold if your health care provider is part of the Blue and Gold network (check the listings on UCOP’s “At Your Service” site). If you do not switch to the Blue and Gold plan your premiums will increase dramatically.

  • Do not choose the Anthem Lumens HRA – when you need health care it costs you lots of money (the opposite of what insurance should do!)

ANALYSIS:
Health care costs are going up faster than employees’ pay or UC’s income. Helping to keep costs down by cutting some of the most costly providers isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but the manner in which UC has done this has an undue negative effect in Davis and Bay Area. In those areas, up to a quarter of UPTE-CWA members will either have to change their primary care provider, or pay about twice as much for premiums. This is far too disruptive!

UPTE-CWA has been advocating new health care plans that keep costs down by keeping employees healthy, especially those with chronic illnesses. Instead of leaping at this opportunity, UC administrators continue to take what they consider the easy route, charging us more.

Worse yet, the percentage increase in monthly premium costs is much higher for lower-paid employees than it is for executives. For example, Blue Cross Plus goes up by a whopping 163% for individuals in the lowest pay band compared to only 43% for individuals in the highest pay band.

TAKE ACTION:

  • How do these changes affect you and your family? Click here now to tell us your story and send an email to UC's head of Human Resources.

  • UPTE has demanded to bargain the massive increase in the cost of the HealthNet. We do not know how long this will take, but we know for sure that members taking action on the website above will make a difference.

RESOURCES: