artlover Loc: NM

When I joined the USPS 49 years ago, you got benefits when you were full time regular. I made it in 54 weeks.
I had 4yrs in Navy. So I started with 4 yrs prior gov't service. You did not have to join the union as a carrier
unless you wanted union health care program. I did not join.

You were given a menu of health plans to choose from. Open Season was in the fall & winter months of that year.
We choose a plan and had it for few years. We had two healthy young boys, 5 & 2
We had a girl born with several rare medical conditions that kept her in the hospital for 62 days from birth.
We had 3 administrators from USC visit us and they declared we had done no thing wrong. Health-Financially-Legally.

She came home for 7 months and we visited the specialist medical people every 2 weeks, and returned to hospital
for another month to the neo-natel intensive care unit again. The girl never got out of the crib by herself. Never walked.
My wife had to give her meds every 4 hrs and my mother was only one with the baby for 3 hrs or less.

The baby died 3 days shy of 11 months. In 1973 I called the carrier union health plan and learned I could not change
health plan or would lose all coverage of the baby. The lady was honest with me. In 1974 I joined the union and got their
health plan. I did not like the union as a group, but stayed there till this day. If the the union lady had lied to me I was
financially ruined due no coverage of the extremely sick daughter. We were told not to have any more children.

To get USPS carrier health plan in 2017: US Gov pays $1091 per month, I pay $367 per month. As a retiree and on medicare.

I have been retired for 24 & 1/2 years. I worked other jobs after USPS until Dec 2006.

MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI

Is there a reason you did/do not like the union? It seems they did all right by you. Or have I missed the point?

artlover Loc: NM

That is why I am still a union member. Retiree benefits are great. I went to meetings for about 1 year & could not stand them 40 years ago.

I still get their monthly pub so I know what is happening. The USPS is only organization that is prepaid 5 yrs in advance for retirees

benefits.

artlover Loc: NM

BTW: In 1972 the unions wanted strike, which was prohibited. A few went on strike and they suffered.
That was a change in USPS. Semi-quasi business. Congress still controls USPS. POTUS JFK installed the last presidential appointee for
Postmaster General. PM - Mgrs - craft employees all had different health care menus.

I saw an article in the union monthly about 2000 that stated the union had about 105K retirees in the union plan & 27 were 100yrs old+.

Every year they give out 50-60-70 year gold membership badges. I am at year 43.

I worked in two type areas. First 7 years in the "outhouse" & next 17 years in the "penthouse".

When I left the PO, I got several commendations from postal mgt.

BTW: You had to go to a Doctor on your 3d day of sick leave.

We had a manager come in one day and told the work force to stay home if they got the flu. He came back too early & almost died.

artlover Loc: NM

BTW: Packages make most money. There was no other pkg delivery system until UPS started out with highest populated states.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Your point?

artlover Loc: NM

If the baby lived to age 21, we could not have turned over to any other plan because of pre-existing conditions.
Fed empl get benefits non feds can't get. Feds say: "Do as we say, not as we do".

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Where did you hear this? Pre-existing conditions are specifically covered in healthcare.

MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI

Today - yes. In the past - no. In the future - you choose. Vote!

And, I agree, it is easy for the congress (little c) to gut health care when they have the best health care money can offer through our tax dollars.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Health care is an individual responsibility and has nothing to do with congress or the government.
There is absolutely no right to government health care or government mandated heath care or government paid for health care.

MichaelH Loc: NorCal via Lansing, MI

My point exactly. Unless you vote for representatives who will regulate the health care and health care insurance industries in a way that does not allow them to penalize for pre-existing conditions. There is no "right" in the USA to health care or health care insurance {much less government paid for health care}. Just like there is no "right" to decent roads. You elect representative to look after the roads and you elect representatives to look after your interests pertaining to health care. If you do not want your representative to regulate health care, that is a choice too, it is just at the far end of the "less" regulation side of the spectrum.

I distinctly remember a time not that long ago when if you let your health insurance lapse and had a pre-existing condition (like diabetes or heart disease) you could be denied coverage. And not having any health insurance is what I would call "individual responsibility" in the extreme. {Unless you are a billionaire, getting ill without insurance can be a bankrupting event.} But then once you are indigent, health care is free again and all who can pay then pay this share. {Luckily there are not many of us here in the States who would openly say they would let their neighbors die for lack of medical care. And note, I did say not many. You do not need to stand up and be counted.}

malawibob Loc: South Carolina

Hi artlover, I retired from the FAA 30 years ago and had 4 years Navy. As a non-postal worker I pay a higher rate, have to join the same union but still they are the cheapest plan. I switched to the value plan a couple of years ago and pay higher co-pays but most of the plan is the same as the regular plans. Never had a problem with them!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Do away completely with government employees getting different health care than the hard workers of America. Or at least make them pay exactly the same premiums as an individual pays then see the tune they sing.

canarywood1 Loc: Sarasota,Florida

And keep electing the GOP to the majority if you really want to see health care go into the toilet, cause that's where it's headed now.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

It already is under obummercare. Most areas of the nation the insurance companies have completely pulled out or only 1 is left. $5,000 deductibles make having an insurance card worthless. If you think the current system is great you are on welfare or getting heavily subsidized healthcare by hard working Americans who cannot afford their own premiums or deductibles. Even Bubba admitted it is a disaster and failed.