#healthinsurance

Apparently we still need to "sign up" for the Verizon paid COBRA insurance during our severance period.

Medical, Dental, and Vision for you and dependents are $0.
There are additional charges for things like extra life insurance, which you can change (decline).

We have until 3/5/26 to sign up for the Verizon paid COBRA insurance during our severance period, BUT you must still sign up, its not automatic (which was not made very clear by HR...another fail from Verizon in regards to this RIF)

I did mine today, says the Total Annual Cost $0.00.
I printed the sheet in case there is any discrepancy and to cover my a-s!

Has anyone submitted claims for the current year yet? Aside from paramedical services being reduced to a $1,000 maximum (for those with Core+Plus coverage), health supplies coverage has also been reduced from 100% to 90%. Some prescription coverage has been reduced to 50% as well.

At this point, signing up for Core+Plus feels useless — I’m paying higher premiums than last year but getting fewer benefits. Maybe, employees should have just enrolled in extended coverage directly with Sun Life.

P.S. Not sure if all employees received the email from Canada Benefits last December. A system configuration issue was identified that caused lower-than-intended health deductions in 2025. It only took them a year to discover the discrepancy. Seriously?! I’m starting to wonder if it’s becoming an annual tradition for the BA Payroll team to mess up our pay deductions.

It looks like the Republicans have found there talking point to go after the ACA. They are blaming health insurance providers for the high cost of healthcare and pointing to the profits they've made since Obamacare started. 2026 is going to be a tough year for this industry.

Does health insurance end on the date of your termination?

It's not by choice, trust me. There are a few good reasons why some of us are still here. The job market is tough right now, so it's not as if it's so easy to leave. Having a job, any job, is a big deal. I also appreciate the health benefits because I can't afford to be without medical coverage for a single day. Expecting that people who're not happy here would just up and leave is incredibly naive and not in touch with reality.

Shot in the dark here looking for some help. I left SAP in May 2025 and have been on COBRA administered by Health Equity/Wageworks. When logging on to make my January payment, I was told that SAP has moved to a new COBRA administrator. No notice was given. I have an email out to HR Direct, but I wanted to see if anyone knows who this is so I can speed up the process.

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...

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-summon-insurance-execs-demand-212014626.html

Starting a job at Wells Jan 19th. Is the United plan decent? Coming from a place with Humana

I got laid off and was wondering if I will have to pay the full amount after the 60 days.

I signed the documents and got confirmation, but haven't heard anything since.

The last thread on the first page of this board was made 7 days ago, last post 6 days ago. Every other health insurer’s page? The last thread on the first page was made weeks or months ago. That’s because Optum is on purpose stressing you out and making you sick so they can pocket the money you should be paid and your only outlet, aside from vices or violence, is this board. And, they have been doing this for a very long time, thanks to their armies of lawyers. I mean, how far removed from humanity are these people; money is that important to you that nothing else matters? Cash rules everything around you? Dollar dollar bill y’all…

Cobra is expensive but with the subsidies not getting extended, anyone thinking about the optimal decision for health coverage?

1) Feed employees an ultra-high sugar diet and provide them with excess sugar whenever possible. 2) Induce diabetes and force them to take GLP-1 and other obesity medications. 3) Inform employees that insurance rates have increased and their benefits are reduced because they’re using GLPs. 4) Rinse and repeat.

Membership is very low. Any layoff rumours?

What am I not seeing?

https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/11/17/anthem-unitedhealth-emblemhealth-lawsuit-health-insurance/

Do you get health insurance benefits after they lay you off?

I got pretty lucky a while ago after almost 30 yrs i took the VSP and was in the first group in September 2024 at 62...

my verizon health care ends at the end of november and if i want to keep it, it will be out of pocket.

i am covering the last 22 months till i hit 65 and get medicare with va health care, and i still have a good chunk of my vsp money left to live on for now...

i have not touched my 401 or my investmnts yet, and i have not filed for social security either.\

i agree that simplifying your life helps a lot and the drop in stress is a huge bonus!!!
but everyone has different situaitons, different ages and their own finances to adjust to...

work every angle, you might be surprised whats out there to help you.

i wish the best of luck to everyone at verizon dealing with the rif, and if you were good at what you did, another opportunity will come along.

Legit question and please correct me if I have this wrong. But how does that occur? If there are people paying nothing for health insurance who don’t even work, I can understand why the American people have a bad taste about this. Love to hear this explained for my own understanding

First of all, i empathize with all my coworkers that were impacted today and wish them my best as they pursue other opportunities .
I survived today but want to know what is the severance package offered this time?
Is it std severance(2 weeks per yr of service and capoed at 35 weeks pay) and same amount of medical coverage upto 35 weeks? TIA!

Steve-o appointed a Deep state Trump admin guy with solid GOP credentials just this week. Do we think this olive branch is enough of a quid-pro-quo to quiet the admin from removing the individual mandate and divert Health Insurance Corporate Welfare directly into patient HSAs? Will this stop the hemorrhaging?

Scott Gottlieb, M.D., Joins UnitedHealth Group Board of Directors

"Dr. Gottlieb, 53, served as FDA commissioner from 2017 to 2019... In addition to his FDA service, Dr. Gottlieb has held roles at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and on the Federal Health Information Technology Policy Committee. A practicing physician, he is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and serves as a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a partner at New Enterprise Associates."

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/scott-gottlieb-m-d-joins-114500585.html

The only thing worth anything in the retirement package is you can carry over your sup life insurance. All else seems expensive as cra*. But they do now have an option to get through ACA.

Are healthcare contributions paid in full by Vz, or is the affected employee still responsible for the portion he or she has been paying all along? Are dental and vision included in the coverage along with health?

I know many of you are kicking yourselves for not taking the VSP package but I want to share some positives of not taking it and getting RIF’d (assuming you get the max 35 weeks)

• had you taken it last year and had a last day of September, your insurance would now be running out at the end of this month. Instead, you have it through the end of this year and for another 7 months
• your severance pay will likely hit in 2026 making the tax impact much much smaller
• you don’t have a non compete and are can be rehired at Verizon. VSPers can never be employed by VZ or a subsidiary again
• instead of 60 weeks of pay, you essentially got 100 (granite you had to work for 65 of them. But that’s still more money in your packet than if you took the VSP)

Just wanted to provide a more positive outlook on this crummy situation. Best of luck to everyone.

Would also suggest making sure your Benefits Connection sign ons are working if you haven't signed on in awhile AND that you can sign on from a personal PC at home.
If close to retirement age or over 65, there are insurance options on there as well plus a link to Via Benefits for secondary insurance coverage

If you get sick or a family member gets sick you will be moved to the top of the layoff list.

HIPPA protects your medical history but not your medical/insurance costs. The company has access to that data and will use it to prioritize people for layoffs.

If you get old, your insurance costs will go up, and you will be selected for a layoff.

Don't get sick or get old.

What is Charter's retirement age and years of service is needed to retire? Also, does Charter offers subsidized health insurance in retirement? With the merger, I'm sure this policy will change to either Cox's terms or stay as Charter after the merger. Hopefully people can hold on to receive those retirement benefits.

Been thinking about this recently. What do you think? Has private MA Health Insurance plans being run by an Oligolopy?

Also, I imagine if the Federal Reserve does not cut interest as originally planned, more layoffs may be planned for 1st quarter 2026.

Cutting 15,000 employees should save the company mucho dinero (after the initial cost outlay). That said, hopefully those let go will receive a good severance payout…including health coverage, STI and remaining stock plan.

Thanks to the Johnny and Jeffrey sh-t show, our insurance tripled in cost. Same exact options at a worse provider. This is what Leadership and The Board thinks of us who gave them decades of our lives.

I’ve retired, still not Medicare eligible and my insurance carrier is changing during COBRA. I don’t know why. I’ve called HR/Benefits 3 times, each time I speak with someone, they tell me that I will have answer within a few days. I had the one person create a ticket number, of course, no one informs me of anything. Today, when I called for the 3rd time, rep tells me the answer they put in the ticket was “insurance carrier changed”. No sh$$ sherlock, yes I know that, that’s what I’m asking is why did it change.
Would anyone know why it would change. Yes, my address changed to a different state, so I’m assuming that’s the reason why.

I rely on my medical coverage now more than ever, and the thought of losing it terrifies me. I’m just tired of living with this constant fear of layoffs. I wish we could go back to focusing on our work without worrying every day if we’ll still have a paycheck tomorrow.

I work in federal services and am wondering if anyone knows if the reopening of the government will restore a lot of the members we keep losing due to the shut down. It’s been awful hearing from members how this is impacting them and their family. Those have jobs aren’t getting paid and others are now losing their health coverage.

Centene issued a WARN notice on October 20, 2025, with a layoff date of December 19, 2025, for Centene Management Company, LLC. While the specific locations and roles are not yet detailed, the notice is part of a larger trend of workforce reduction in the health insurance sector due to factors like shifting government healthcare policies and changing market conditions.
Notice Issued: October 20, 2025.
Layoff Date: December 19, 2025.
Company: Centene Management Company, LLC.
Affected Employees: The notice is for a mass layoff and closings, and more specific details are expected to be released later.
Context: This is part of a broader trend in the health insurance industry.
Factors contributing to the layoff include changes in government policies, particularly with the end of pandemic-era Medicaid regulations, and market shifts, according to this YouTube video.
Other recent news includes Centene withdrawing its 2025 guidance in July 2025 due to market conditions, as seen in this press release from Centene's investor relations site.

I’m “assuming” for those who get cut, they’ll work until 12/31 and will get 2wks pay for every yr worked, healthcare coverage for same period and STI / stock vesting paid out?

"why are we sending billions in subsidies to insurance companies when we could just give the money directly to Americans to choose their own healthcare"

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/08/senate-republicans-trump-obamacare

Keep reposting this: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/08/senate-republicans-trump-obamacare

If/when the government eliminates ACA, how will it impact layoffs at Optum?

Got a meeting invite at 3pm on a Friday at the end of November. Should I be worried??