We’re definitely far removed from the Covid pandemic, and it’s gone back to how it was pre March 2020. Employees are coming into office sick due to fear of corrective action for attendance or not meeting the 4 day RTO requirement. But we need to build that culture, which is 100% BS by the way.
Posts mentioning hashtag #health
Below are all the posts — topics as well as replies — that mention the hashtag #health.
Mention #health in your post to continue the discussion!
2026 is going to be a bad year for health insurance companies.
The GOP is targeting health insurance companies this year, and it will impact this company. The days of free money and corruption are over.
Alzheimer's finger-pr--k test could help diagnosis
Maybe those of us with working Edison machines can get an adapter kit for our machines.
That would give us the added ability to do Alzheimer's diagnosis, in addition to the standard suite of tests we can do now.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5y85e8d2xo
Health insurance
This new plan su-ks so bad. I picked the same one I had last year but now it’s so much more expensive.
Rightway Medtronic's New Prescription Benefit
Anyone else having problems accessing the new prescription benefit, Rightway? Account has been deactivated. I called Rightway and was told their not sure why it's either an error, employee not eligible, or termination. This benefit just started 1/1/26
Pretty smart making everyone RTO during the Super Flu.
Genius timing. Ought to work out really well.
Optum at home/Landmark
With Landmark fully sunsetting on 12/31, talk of organizational changes, and losing patients to other health plans, any word on RIF’s in this area in January?
Will we lose Illinois Medicaid contract?
MCO bids for 2027 went out recently. Any word about whether or not BCBS will be losing their contract with the Healthchoice Illinois program? The plan has been underperforming in a lot of metrics compared to the other MCOs. Wondering if I need to be looking to avoid future unemployment...
Union negotiations so now it begins it’s all been planned
As I said months ago they already have a contract extension in place .Both sides just needed to make it look like there was so much between them.As though so much hard work had to be done .Now they sell us the bag that’s filled with you know what.They will say man we made progress it was a tough fight and this is what we got .So I think retirees best not get their hopes up the cost of the health is not reverting.The only hope you have is a cap of some sort.The raises will be just enough to cover the medical increase for active workers.The company as you know wants to wack the disability down so there goes that when the majority of us now at at a point we may need it.So here’s to 2026 best of luck brothers.Lets just hope they don’t sell out the lump for the pension carriers maybe they throw us a bone with another paid holiday like June 19
ACA enrollment down 191,000 in GA
From 1.5 million to 1.3 million. Not terrible, until you read further that 2/3 of that 1.3 million were automatically enrolled from 2025. Which means they likely haven’t paid the premium yet. Thus, that 1.3 number is expected to drop once the bill comes due and is significantly higher than 2025. Waiting to see what the numbers in Florida look like.
Dhahran pollution levels
I’m on the process of potentially taking a role with Aramco.
I am reconsidering given what I read about the air quality levels, yesterday it was globally the worst place for PM 2.5.
I understand the region is dusty but I really don’t want to damage my health or those of my kids breathing toxic air.
Can anyone point me to some advice on the matter, I cat the the first one mentioning this. The HR guy said it’s only a couple of days a year when the seasons change it gets really bad. How do others cope,
Health Plans
Starting a job at Wells Jan 19th. Is the United plan decent? Coming from a place with Humana
2026 - End the Healthcare Chaos—End the healthcare Corruption
In 2025, America’s healthcare system is collapsing by design. There is no universal coverage, ACA tax credits have vanished for millions, and costs remain opaque and predatory. One illness can still mean debt or bankruptcy. This is not care—it’s organized insecurity.
Tying healthcare to employment has made everything worse. Jobs are no longer stable, yet coverage depends on them. Americans stay trapped in bad work or delay care out of fear. Meanwhile, college-educated workers in technology and healthcare are pushed aside as employers lean on H-1B visas and rush AI deployment to cut wages and labor costs. Workers lose jobs—and with them, their healthcare—while executives call it “efficiency.”
The deeper problem is political capture. Politicians have embedded themselves in healthcare policy while being financed by insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and hospital lobbies. Legalized bribery masquerading as campaign finance has turned public policy into a profit shield. As long as money writes the rules, reform will fail.
The solution is clear: delink healthcare from employment, make coverage universal and portable, and get politicians—and their donors—out of our healthcare decisions. End the corruption, end the chaos, and put people before profit.
I am just punching a clock, socking away as
Much as possible. What I don't like is my drinking has increased massively and that's my problem. Lunchtime I head out and go to some random parking lot and knock a few back. Have a tumbler roadie for the office to nurse for the afternoon and then have a few for the ride home. By 8-9 pm every day I am lights out asleep only to do it all over again. Do you think there are many more drinking, getting high on the job? I only have a couple more years of this but man it's taking a toll.
Optum insight Town Hall
Sandeep called somebody out by name and talked about him having foot surgery during the all-hands. Isn’t that PHI?
If I hit refresh one more time, I’m going to lose my mind
Stepping away for a bit. Wishing good luck to everyone.
PDC Tuberculosis
Anyone else get the notice about TB at PDC? I want to know how whoever had it was contact traced; we don't have assigned desks. So was this person isolated or is Ford just allowing employees to be exposed to TB?
Another knock against 4 day RTO. I don't want to catch TB from the gross PDC.
Pregnancy In-Office Exemption
Just FYI- pregnancy is a valid reason for an in-office exemption. It's called an "accommodation request" and extremely easy to submit the form. I submitted the form at 3pm and I was called the next day at 7:30am and it was approved by 9am and took effect immediately.
Optum will eliminate 572 jobs and close multiple medical clinics in New Jersey.
https://njbiz.com/optum-layoffs-nj-medical-clinic-closures/
Programs
We had a patient call the office and stated that she did not understand why she’s being taken off the supportive care program. She switched from a different insurance to a United healthcare advantage plan just for the coverage and whoever she spoke to just advised her that Wellmed supportive care is not accepting United healthcare so there’s no coverage for the supportive care within her benefits. It seems like they are letting the patients know in advance so they can transition back to the clinic and get scheduled in office before they do the layoffs.
Just a thought. Next round might be 12/18
Santa Barbara County Public Health Department pauses layoffs
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department paused its plan to make layoffs and transition thousands of patients away from county clinics due to “unsatisfactory immigration status.” The decision follows an ongoing injunction to a change in federal law.
https://www.santamariasun.com/news-2/county-public-health-pauses-layoffs-and-patient-transfers-left-with-budget-deficits/
I'm buried under extra work
Ever since the last round of cuts, my plate has doubled with no support in sight. I barely get a moment to breathe before something else lands on my desk. Breaks are more of a hope than a reality these days. I am counting down the time until I can move on to something healthier.
Medical question
I have enough saved that I don’t have to go back to work. I can go on my wife’s medical since I’m not Medicaid eligible. At 65 can I and my wife still get supplemental insurance from Verizon at 65? I heard that I can, but if my wife leaves the company insurance now, she can’t come back. Anyone know if this is true?
To anyone who is feeling depressed or sui-idal …
PLEASE reach out and get support. If you don’t have people in your personal life you can lean on, contact the Employee Assistance Program.
You matter. You have value. Job loss can feel devastating. It feels like a violation or an as--ult. Your income and your livelihood has suddenly been ripped away. Your routine is disrupted. There’s anxiety and financial distress. On top of that, you may feel socially isolated without colleagues to interact with regularly.
But your job doesn’t define you. You are SO much more than that.
You can get through this! Grieve the loss. Feel your emotions and process them. And then step-by-step, move forward and put this sh-t show of a company behind you.
Take care of yourself and purposely do things that bring you joy. For me, that’s enjoying a nice cup of coffee and cuddling with my puppy.
Watch funny movies. Put your phone away, get off this fu--ing website, and immerse yourself in nature. (I should really take my own advice.) Maybe there are projects around the house you’ve been putting off. This evening I’m cleaning up my place and it feels awesome and productive.
If you’re a person of faith (or are open), go to church. Writing in a journal can be very helpful in processing your feelings. I know that I have ALL kinds of feelings right now.
There’s absolutely no shame in reaching out to the EAP if you need a supportive and listening ear. It’s all part of self-care.
Sending you big hugs from an Internet stranger!
Got a job offer!
I just got a job offer at a company that is actually growing. I’m taking -30k pay cut but it’s better than unemployment.
I am also being assessed for MS and the doom and gloom was contributing to my ms attacks.
If you get a chance to get out, please do it!! It’s not worth your health and sooner or later you will have symptoms.
I consider myself extremely lucky and I wish you all the best in your futures!
It was an honour working with the good people! There are some really talented people working for Dell and you deserve way more than what is currently happening!
God bless! Another Rockstar Out!
Medical coverage
Sorry if this was already asked and answered, but posts are coming in too fast and I can't keep up. Are people getting any extended medical coverage as part of the severance package?
Health benefits
What happens to health benefits when we're laid off? Do we get any kind of coverage or do we get cut off immediately?
Is anyone getting sleep tonight?
If so, how many pills and/or co-ktails are you taking to sleep? Lol
Assistance Programs
ATT’s Assistance programs are an absolute joke. Going through IVF is already a headache and then when you submit a claim a few months past their arbitrary deadline (even with receipts) it’s denied. Been nothing but loyal to the company since I’ve been here. They don’t even advertise these programs either. You have to click through 20 different HROneStop links to even know they exist.
More on Pottstown Hospital layoffs
Layoffs at Pottstown Hospital are raising new concerns about access to medical care in western Montgomery County, writes Jim Melwert for KYW Newsradio. The cuts are part of a 350-person reduction across Tower Health’s network.
https://bucksco.today/2025/11/health-care-desert-pottstown-hospital/
2026 Benefits - 34% increase in health insurance premiums
For the co-pay plan, there's a premium increase of about 34%. That and the deductibles are going up across the board. Glad we're able to sacrifice for the shareholders!
If you are sick PLEASE stay home
I get it. We all have an “in office goal”. The rest of us want to stay healthy. Work with your manager if it means you aren’t going to hit your RTO numbers. It is disrespectful to disregard others and expose us to your germs for a swipe.
Ex-Nike here. So happy
Leaving Nike was the best decision I've made in my life. I did not realize I was in depression working in such a company where employees don't do any actual work. I was at Nike for 5 years and left soul s**king Oregon and Nike. Much happier, lost 30 pounds in a year, my health markers are healthier.
My friends who work there have been trying to get a job for 3 years. That's what nike does to you - make you unfit for jobs outside!
OSHA violations in Atlanta
Hope you didn’t drink the water today…
Analytics
Is anyone else experiencing massive data and reporting issues for their LOB? An example would be incorrect regulatory reporting sent externally. It feels like the shift higher up to push for automation and restructure is placing health plans at compliance risk. Are we just going all in here despite legal, regulatory, and future RFP risk? This seems obvious as I'm typing, but more curious if others are seeing this.
Should have purchased more blues plans instead.
With some these cash strapped independent blues plans, you think the board is regretting the Cigna acquisition?
Could have had blue licenses in Minnesota, Michigan and others, probably for far less than 3.5 billion too.