Insurance

[MOM247]

Hi there,

I'm trying to navigate through this and having a difficult time with it. Looking for some info or pointers. Anyone that has knowledge on insurance laws or advise on who i need to talk to. I'm sure my sons clinic social worker might have some suggestions, but I've learned much more on this site

Here is the situation: My husbands crew at work are all union workers, including my husband. They are pipe fitters. The office portion of the staff are not. Everyone that works in the office section is under a spouse's insurance or private insurance paid through the company. The office staff are not part of the union, and don't pay dues. They don't have the Union Trust Health insurance, that we have. My husband was notified that the union is forcing the company in the new year to add all office staff to the Union insurance plan. The cost of the union insurance is too high to add all the office staff vs the plans they are paying currently.

My husband went to our insurance administrators and they told him since everything is in limbo, that he should not have the company bookkeeper pay towards his benefits. They claim he is paid up until May. Then they advised him to go on Cobra, and then shop for private insurance.

My husband plans to support the appeal for the Unions request to demand Union coverage for the office staff. That won't happen until next month. The office didn't pay dues this month because of the advise that they were paid up until May. I'm just very scared and can't stand this. Any tips on how I can protect my family. My husband wants me to start shopping for private insurance. Have any of you did this since all the healthcare changes. Does it seem normal to be paid up so far ahead? Feel like by not paying this month, it could be a sneaky way of forcing us out. Very scared.

Sarah

 

[Aboveallislove]

Sarah, I'm hoping to help, but am not really clear on what is happening. Is the company dropping your husband's insurance? Doesn't their union have CBA requiring insurance? The company can't just drop insurance if a CBA requires coverage and I believe they can't drop during negotiation for a new one, but am not positive on that. From your email, the union does not represent the office workers, nor is it likely that it could because pipefitters and office workers wouldn't be the same bargaining unit (unless the office workers also wanted the same union). What has the union told your husband? Isn't there a union benefits counselor? Has the employer said outright we aren't providing insurance? I'd start with your husband talking to the union benefit's counselor and get specifics of what exactly is going on. This doesn't sound "right," and I don't mean in a right/wrong way, but that I think there is a lost in translation of what is really going on. Sorry, I can't be more help without more clarification.