Insurance Question

[SupportRat]

Be sure to click each sub poll so we can better acquire all the needed info.

#2 http://www.ratpackinternational.com/packchat/showthread.php?t=807

#3 http://www.ratpackinternational.com/packchat/showthread.php?t=803

#4 http://www.ratpackinternational.com/packchat/showthread.php?t=802

#5 Optional Spouse: http://www.ratpackinternational.com/packchat/showthread.php?t=804

#6 Optional Spouse Age: http://www.ratpackinternational.com/packchat/showthread.php?t=805

[HeadRat]

That should do it as long as everyone follows the other threads. You can't get it to be multiple choices all on one page?

[mexfishguide]

We can add items we desire after we get started with this, I have contacted 7 group carriers so far.

It is hard to keep employer coverage the way we move around so I thought a central coverage where we can pay and also the employers can pay into when we work for them?

Give us some feed back please.

Take Care
Mexfishguide:cheers

[alky]

MFG
What you are saying is what the majority of construction workers need--full time coverage. While we are employed our respective contractors provide, at a nominal fee, group insurance for ourselves and our families. Then either the job ends or we drag and the coverage stops. Seems tha my wife always gets sick just after the coverage ends.
Our underwriting our own insurance and providing our own policies, thru a major carrier, means that the money we are spending with the contractors insurance can now be diverted to our carrier and we can pick and choose what coverage and what deductions we can afford to live with
This idea of yours is the best thing to come along sense skim milk or lite beer.
All rats--this isn't6 one of the funny pick and choose jewels that Jester sotimes adds --This is the begining of an idea that can help all of us that subscribe.

[mexfishguide]

Yes, I mean it to be for the good of all us paying rats.

We need to enchorage all other pack members to get in and use the questionaie to speak out on their needs.

I have contacted over 12 providers for comments.

Take care
Mexfishguide:cheers

[HeadRat]

I received your emails MF, you're doing one hell of a job with this.

[sparky58]

Like alot of guys I am under cort order to supply insurance for my kids. If I could get continuous coverage it would be good. Plus the ex bitch wouldn't know which company I work for:lol:

[Bontom]

Part of my lay-off package from Fluor was my health insurance. I don't know if this is for the rest of my life, but I think the policy is for local coverage. Would this insurance cover both state side and international coverage? Are we working to have all the employers pay these benefits or at least part of it? At the time of lay-off could we then pay the premiums?

[katze]

My insurance disappears once I am finished with a job. I can opt for COBRA, but it is a ridiculous amount of money for "in between jobs". I would rather have one insurance and have it steady and know I can count on it overseas as well as home.:blahslap

[htspark05]

Just my:2cents worth of ideas:

I am not sure of the details but I have heard of Medical Savings Accounts (MSA's) that are utilized in the same manner as a 401(K) for retirement. Basically, you build up cash into the medical account as long as you do not use it, but if you have to use it the cash is there. Like I stated I am unsure of all of the details but I have spoken with a couple of people that have utilized such a system. This may be a viable option depending on the medical carrier/ government guidelines.
Another option that I am familiar with is that a few carriers have discounts for preventive medicine, such as lowering blood pressure, cholesterol and such of pre-existing medical conditions. Again, this would be subject to the carriers guidelines but any options in a plan that can keep medical costs lower can enhance the benefits.

[alky]

Head Rat--Support Rat--Mex Fish

You guys have been doing a great job with the questionairs and the leg work setting up offers with carriers, but how much support do we have from the membership? With in excess of 400 members and onlt 30 odd showing any interest we may just be shoveling shit against the tide.
To make this opportunity a viable option, we need to show the membership how much they can save/loose using a RPI sponsered policy..

[HeadRat]

With interest and membership on the rise, I've reopened an investigation on what Rat Pack International would have to do to carry insurance for you guys, so that you would not have to keep jumping companies with each job you go to with a different company.
Not only that, our hope is that we can provide the same and best coverage for each person as thier current carrier, if not better. Talking with at least one company now and will keep you posted.
One major problem I've seen so far is that with doing group coverage, prices reduce as the number of people involved increases, but can only be started with a specific number of people on inception. So I'm hoping, in order to get this going, that the 190+ people that have viewed this thread are mostly interested in the program even though they did not all vote.

[HeadRat]

Is this an issue that needs to be revisited?

[mexfishguide]

HR and members this could be one of the best programs ratpack ever come up with!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been on uncle sams ss insurance & VA for several years now, but it costs the hell our of me for the wife. Believe me after a couple heart attacks and open heart surgery go out and try buying a good health insurance policy,
for under 300 a week. Suprise / suprise.:rockwoot:

Think about it folks!!! If a person could go from 1200 a month to 350 a month!!:wtf

HR, if you have the time, go for it.

Take Care
Mexfishguide:cheers

[RatBrother]

My insurance disappears once I am finished with a job. I can opt for COBRA, but it is a ridiculous amount of money for "in between jobs". I would rather have one insurance and have it steady and know I can count on it overseas as well as home.:blahslap

Exactly bro,
Some of the members have been in contact with the insurance issue.
It is a great idea,, Feasable,, And we all need of it.
However, it seems like , with ANY insurance issue, there is the dreaded
Liability issue !! That is, and has been the speed bump in getting it going. Be patient !

[paganviking]

internationalcitizens.com and healthcareinternational.com both offer solid health insurance plans at attractive premiums. the quotes i've received from these companies beat the standard 80/20 company plans hands down. check it out. until RPI is able to arrange group coverage this is a great option.

[RLSharpe]

I personally don't comment on someting like that till I see prices. But their is power in numbers, and that is an idea. I took a look at the past threads and see this is a past issue. I to have been faced with the Cobra option and where do I go to find out more about what Ratpack has.

If I wasn't here, I would be some where else!:AR15

[Electrical Al]

I personally don't comment on someting like that till I see prices. But their is power in numbers, and that is an idea. I took a look at the past threads and see this is a past issue. I to have been faced with the Cobra option and where do I go to find out more about what Ratpack has.

If I wasn't here, I would be some where else!:AR15

This all sounds good but before I became a electrican I was a comerical dairy farmer for 19 years and we belong to a 3000 plus dairy farmer co-op and we had group coverage from blue cross, and the price was a good deal for a few years and then came along HMO and I tried to keep my policy that resembled the policy I had overseas Cigna. Well that policy went from 375 a month to 720 a mo. Well that was 1986. One reason I got out of farming and went to work for public company. The policy prices have gone up a lot since then. I always have had a problem with the changing of companies and waiting for 90 day probation period to kick in for coverage. But what I trying to say with a large membership we had before I do not beleive you will save enough to be make it feasable to pay for your own coverage instead of having benefit from employer on partial payment. I know I would not like paying 6 to 800 a month:2cents:2cents

[pacificdiver]

Not sure if you have contacted Cigna International
They have a Multi Plan network savings program.
Here are the Expatriate benefits...etc.

http://www.cignaexpats.com/

http://www.cignaexpats.com/advantage_cieb/envoy.html

http://www.cignaexpats.com/resources/expatriates.html

[RLSharpe]

Thanks, as always, for the info. Talked to my Dr. and he told me to sign up for the Cobra but don't pay until you need to and sure enough I'm headin to Africa and won't have to pay the Cobra. He told me that when his clinic was gobbled up by a large healthcare provider group this is what he did till he relocated to another practice. Thanks Pacificdiver for the Cigna sites. Gives me something to look at while I finish this project In Africa.

If I wasn't here, I would be somewhere else! :AR15

[pacificdiver]

Your welcome! If anyone has or knows another carrier please post it so we can compare.
In the mean time please keep us posted HR and a BIG Thank you! :cheers

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[Justus]

I used International Medical Group (http://imglobal.com/index.aspx) in '06-'07 and was very happy with them. Medical coverage for 3 people was $230/month with $500 deductible and $5M max outpay.