State Workers

[b4its2late]

http://dbm.maryland.gov/benefits/Doc...hanges2012.pdf

This is the deal your union reps negotiated for you.

I suggest those of us up in age put an additional $1,000 to $2,000 into our medical spending accounts to cover the added costs.

[Gigi]

Look better than Federal benefits to me.

[MDCivilServant]

People in my office have just recently become aware of the changes. They are starting to fume.

The changes are really going to hit people that have the POS and PPO plans. The EPO was not included in the changes.

The bottom line is that state employees are taken for granted by O'Malley. As a result we get screwed.

I remember during the last election my co-workers were very unhappy with O'Malley but trembled in fear at the thought of publicly campaigning against him.

[Bloomin Onion]

People in my office have just recently become aware of the changes. They are starting to fume.

The changes are really going to hit people that have the POS and PPO plans. The EPO was not included in the changes.

The bottom line is that state employees are taken for granted by O'Malley. As a result we get screwed.

I remember during the last election my co-workers were very unhappy with O'Malley but trembled in fear at the thought of publicly campaigning against him.

I volunteered for the petition to stop illegal aliens from getting in-state tuition and some state employees were uneasy about signing it and fearing retribution by O'Malley and his goons. I fear it may be the same with gay marriage, since King O'Malley decrees that gay marriage be accepted regardless of what the majority of people think.

[OldBay]

http://dbm.maryland.gov/benefits/Doc...hanges2012.pdf

This is the deal your union reps negotiated for you.

I suggest those of us up in age put an additional $1,000 to $2,000 into our medical spending accounts to cover the added costs.

Actually, this is what happens when the chairman of the so-called Benefits Sustainability Commission is a registered lobbyist for the same insurance companies that stand to profit by discouraging people from having necessary medical procedures.

Most employed spouses will have better health insurance available so this insurance should be dropped.

The info has been on the DBM website for about a month now, but most people don't understand it. They'll find out the hard way if they need insurance.

Agree about the health care spending accounts for those with no other insurance options. Also, invest in the insurance companies. They will have another banner year.

[OldBay]

Look better than Federal benefits to me.

Every state worker in my office who is married to a fed employee carries the fed family insurance. The fed insurance is both cheaper and has better coverage.

[music_man]

All on the back of the taxpayer. Be grateful.

[TFinan]

http://dbm.maryland.gov/benefits/Doc...hanges2012.pdf

This is the deal your union reps negotiated for you.

I suggest those of us up in age put an additional $1,000 to $2,000 into our medical spending accounts to cover the added costs.

All State Employees DID NOT SELECT THEIR UNION. O'Malley bribed the Unions to Support him & in exchange he gave State Employees to the Unions. I believe the Feds. should investigate the relationship between the Unions (who are getting an "Increase" in the "Fair Share" in July while State Employees loose the $750 they got in FY'12) and our corrupt Governor. The $750 was for 1 year only, but increases for State Employees continue to get bigger.

[Gigi]

Every state worker in my office who is married to a fed employee carries the fed family insurance. The fed insurance is both cheaper and has better coverage.

I don't buy that, especially based on the link that was posted here.

[bmore_ken]

Every state worker in my office who is married to a fed employee carries the fed family insurance. The fed insurance is both cheaper and has better coverage.

Are they paying more than $198.48 per pay period for their family plan premium, because that's what this fed pays

[Cetshwayo]

Medical care should be free to all occupants of the united States and it's tributaries.

[Smokey 1]

All on the back of the taxpayer. Be grateful.

State workers don't pay a portion of the insurance costs? Who knew?

[OldBay]

Are they paying more than $198.48 per pay period for their family plan premium, because that's what this fed pays

Mea culpa! You are right and I was wrong (how often do you read those words on these boards?).

My state health insurance is $173.49 for the family plan per paycheck, so you pay about $600 more per year.

Its been years since I last compared costs and coverages. It seems the fed gov't have been busy increasing the premiums on its employees while the state has held the premium costs steady - at least over the past 3-4 years, while decreasing coverage and increasing co-pays and deductibles. Unfortunately, there is no apples to apples comparison possible. In the end, I suspect it may be close to a wash.

I had lunch today with a co-worker married to a fed. She's always had the fed family coverage. When I asked her if she compared the coverage of the cheaper state insurance, she said she did long ago and found the fed plan to be more comprehensive. She didn't care about paying $600 more and will never consider the state plan because there is no job security. I asked about all the other couples who carry the fed insurance rather than the cheaper state insurance and the answer was the same - no job security with the state.

[b4its2late]

All State Employees DID NOT SELECT THEIR UNION. O'Malley bribed the Unions to Support him & in exchange he gave State Employees to the Unions. I believe the Feds. should investigate the relationship between the Unions (who are getting an "Increase" in the "Fair Share" in July while State Employees loose the $750 they got in FY'12) and our corrupt Governor. The $750 was for 1 year only, but increases for State Employees continue to get bigger.

I was being a smart aleck when I worded it that way. The unions actually think they got us a good deal. It would have been cheaper to do an across the board 5% increase in premium like the Gov wanted to do ... but no, the unions bargained for what will end up costing more than 5% to most state workers.

That's what happens when you have thousands of clueless people that DON'T SHOW UP TO VOTE. Now all of us are stuck with crappy unions that are more concerned about management than the members who are paying their salaries.

Most of the poor people that opted out had to go to hearings and the unions fought them on the opt outs.

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

What goes around eventually comes around. Karma's a beotch. The unions will get their just desserts eventually.

[b4its2late]

State workers don't pay a portion of the insurance costs? Who knew?

State workers pay 20% of their health insurance ...

[Cetshwayo]

If illegals come here and get free medical care why do state workers have to pay for their medical care?

[music_man]

State workers don't pay a portion of the insurance costs? Who knew?

And where does the money come from that state workers use to pay that portion?

Riiiiiiight

Again. Be grateful.

[Smokey 1]

And where does the money come from that state workers use to pay that portion?

Riiiiiiight

Again. Be grateful.

No more grateful than you should be about where your money comes from.

[TFinan]

If illegals come here and get free medical care why do state workers have to pay for their medical care?

We have to pay because our Gov. is looking for votes. He'll Bribe any group and screw anyone to get the vote with the full support of Miller & Busch.

[TFinan]

And where does the money come from that state workers use to pay that portion?

Riiiiiiight

Again. Be grateful.

Actually State Employees pay part of their own salaries so dead beats like you can complain. This article is another illustration of why Maryland should go to 1 county 1 vote for Statewide offices & legislation. The counties of Montgomery, PG & Baltimore City have enough votes to approve any legislation even if it does harm to the other areas of Maryland. Those counties, Montgomery being the wealthiest, can approve tax increases for the whole State and in return get the largest percentage of those taxes. Those counties can approve the Gas Tax for Maryland and get the largest percentage for their failing Mass Transit programs. Transportation Funds were to include road repairs in the State but it was all spent for an Intra-County Connector to nowhere and Mass Transit Programs that very few people use because of the crime in the system and the Western Counties & Eastern Shore pay the majority of those taxes because there is no "Mass Transit" in those areas.