Just want to make sure that everyone knows that they are entitled to 6 months of subsidized COBRA medical coverage, and unemployment compensation. Severance pay does not take away your right to unemployment, and getting to pay the same amount for medical coverage for 6 months is good as well. By the time COBRA runs out, we can start on Obama Care for pretty low premiums if we do not have jobs.
11 replies (most recent on top)
My original post is no longer here! They censor the site?
Non US payrolls are returned their home country and get no Cobra.
I got laid off from BP in 1992 and Chevron in 2015. BP stands for "Best Package" There is no comparison
(Soon to be Ex-) BP employee here. We get subsidized COBRA for a full 12 months if terminated, at the same rate as current employees, then have another 6 months of COBRA available at 102% of cost if we want to continue coverage. Our severance package also tops out at 16 months of pay. That's a pretty significant difference in packages for similar sized super-majors.
@1xuh, I heard your story told by several others. Who knows how many more horror stories like yours go untold. I'm sure you've kept all your medical and dental bills you paid yourself. I am pretty confidant you will get your reimbursement. Keep on top of things. When I got laid off in mid 2015, I was very fortunate to have asked many questions and received good advise from my HRBP prior to my last day on the payroll. I was in one of the first groups to see layoffs. The HRSC was surely less busy with cases like mine at that time. Right now, they are swamped with processing more cases than they can handle. Mistakes are inevitable. Besides that, Chevron is depending on third party services like ADP Cobra Services to process the Cobra medical stuff. Delays on multiple levels are going on, not to mention the occasional mistakes. My best advise to all affected employees is make good use of your 6 weeks in the WARN period to gather information and learn the process well. Get addresses, phone numbers, number of days to process, etc. When your time comes to start filing the paperwork, don't waste any time. Chase down any mail you feel is being delayed. Photocopy everything you fill out and mail it off via FedEx or US Priority Mail that is traceable. Good luck to all.
I was laid off in Oct, Chevron health insurance continued until Dec 31. COBRA coverage began Jan 1, but I went through more than 3 months of crap to get proof of COBRA coverage. My insurance cards finally arrived today (April 7). In the meantime, from Jan 1 until today, I had to pay my doctors/dentist out-of-pocket for significantly higher non-insured rates and it is an open question whether I will ever be properly reimbursed for all that I paid. I also had to pay out of pocket for my prescriptions, I could not do the mail order because I had no proof of insurance. I likely will not be fully reimbursed for these expenses too.
Worst of all, I had to deal with HR/benefits drones for 3 months. Everytime, their response was, we will get back to you in 2-4 weeks!
If your income is low enough and you have children who are minors, they may qualify to get CHIPped with the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), for which all their health care costs will be covered. What a nice and appropriate name. I always wanted my kids to get CHIPped.
There are some insurance plans in Houston through the Healthcare Marketplace (Obamacare) that are very affordable. My spouse and I have an HMO Deductible Plan I took out in Jan this year through Community Health Choice that costs under $100 a month in premiums. I chose my pension as an annuity and I'm able to live on it exclusively without touching my 401k. I derive $32,400 a year from the Chevron annuity and I don't have any mortgage or debt, so in my case it's doable. Because my annual household income is that low, my Obamacare subsidized medical plan is under $100. Your premium will depend on your annual household income.
With Obamacare, unless you have Medicaid, the deductibles and copays are so high, its like you don't even have insurance.
Only US or GOP get Cobra. Other expats do not. Trust me, I know because local HR confirmed I'm soon to have no coverage.
FYI that is only the case if you are not on a High Deductible Plan. I was laid off in the ETC ROM and by the time my COBRA documents arrived I discovered that I was not eligible for COBRA coverage. After talking to HR they stated after an "investigation" that such high deductible plans are not covered. Unfortunately, the wait caused me to miss Obamacare's open enrollment for the life change event of being laid off, so I will get dinged for a tax penalty next year.
Be very sure of what you are offered, and confirm that your plan is eligible for COBRA continuation, preferably in writing! Good luck to all of those affected by the layoffs today. It's a tough transition, but there is a big, beautiful world outside of Chevron.
Big $hit. Everyone already knows that on this site. Welcome to the Deadwood forum.