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My employer tells us it's "ok to lie" to get health insurance discount (vanity).

Posted on 09/04/2011 10:30:39 PM PDT by Catmom

During our last contract negotiations at a Seattle area hospital, our employer told union reps (SEIU) that all employees covered by the hospital's health insurance plans would be required to join a "wellness program" or start having a portion of their premiums deducted from their paychecks. They told us they had contracted with an outside vendor to manage this "program".

The program is focused on weight loss and requires all employees who participate to answer quarterly emails where they give their height and weight. Many of my coworkers ARE overweight and took exception to this.

The employer told us this program had become necessary to contain health care costs and enabled them to give us a better deal on health insurance than any other hospital in the area. We were also told that the program requires minimal participation beyond the quarterly email responses. In fact, the director of Human Resources actually told union members it would be okay for employees to provide false responses to the emails just so long as they participated. Employees who choose to opt out will have 20% of their premiums deducted from their paychecks.

Is this where Obamacare has gotten us? Employers who tell their workers to lie to outside vendors so they can "get us a good deal" on a health insurance plan?

Needless to say. I'm going to opt out on this. The "wellness program" is a sham and I refuse to lie to anyone to "get a great deal".

And I'll bet this "wellness program" knows employees do this, too. They're just in it to make bucks off the situation employers find themselves in.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: healthinsurance; obamacare; seiu; vanity
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To: MacMattico; TenthAmendmentChampion

Ditto what MacM said...


21 posted on 09/05/2011 5:04:43 AM PDT by TN4Liberty (My tagline disappeared so this is my new one.)
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To: rawhide

“They are voluntary to participate.”

You know how these things go. Voluntary today, mandatory tomorrow. . . .


22 posted on 09/05/2011 5:16:09 AM PDT by webstersII
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To: Catmom

how Shariah compliant. Unfortunately this corruptive philosophy is one reflected in what I was told decades ago
by an agent of the State-when seeking help at the employment office—and what I was told by agents of the VA on benefits.
Like that golden oldie “Money for nothin—and your checks for free.” (oops in Freudian slip I substituted an e for an i and now hasten to escape the iou.... or ei ei o


23 posted on 09/05/2011 5:39:21 AM PDT by StonyBurk (ring)
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To: Catmom

There is already precedence on this. You lie and you’re benefits can be reduced. Example would be a smoker with life insurance. If you lie and get a premium discount and it is later found out you lied - the payout won’t be null and void, but rather adjusted downwards to what you paid and the actuaries considered with the new found facts.


24 posted on 09/05/2011 6:31:02 AM PDT by Usagi_yo
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To: MayflowerMadam

Whoa! Good for you for being very honest! What happened between your boss and you after your testimony?


25 posted on 09/05/2011 6:35:39 AM PDT by rawhide
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To: newzjunkey

Never felt slighted! Why should I?


26 posted on 09/05/2011 6:37:28 AM PDT by rawhide
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To: Catmom

Why would *all* employees be required to join a wellness program?


27 posted on 09/05/2011 6:37:36 AM PDT by ladyjane
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To: MacMattico; TenthAmendmentChampion

I prayed for you too, TenthAmendmentChampion. Thanks MacMattico for encouraging me to do that, as I should have thought to do that earlier. God bless both of you, in the name of the Lord Jesus.


28 posted on 09/05/2011 6:42:04 AM PDT by rawhide
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To: ladyjane

Because they don’t want those who actually need it to feel singled out.


29 posted on 09/05/2011 9:01:37 AM PDT by Catmom
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To: rawhide

“What happened between your boss and you after your testimony?”

I was selected to be on the jury, much to my boss’ dismay. We had a hectic couple of months ahead of us and she wanted/needed me around.

After that, things were tense ‘cause I no longer trusted her. This was in city government. The City Manager didn’t like my boss much and she was encouraged to look elsewhere, which she did. When she got situated in another city, she called me and asked me to look in an employee’s personnel file and give her information (to use against the City Manager). I responded, “You know I can’t give you confidential personnel information; you taught me well.” She got angry and hung up. I reported the call to the C.M.’s assistant.

I learned there were other issues, as a big investigation began soon after. (What it is about the Catberts of the world? I hate H.R.)


30 posted on 09/06/2011 1:40:40 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam ("I know that God's tomorrow will be better than today!" A. H. Ackley)
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To: MayflowerMadam

You are an honest person. I am glad to know you. Take care and God bless you!


31 posted on 09/06/2011 1:53:13 PM PDT by rawhide
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To: dangerdoc
You gained and lost 1k pounds in one year????????

WOW!!!

32 posted on 09/06/2011 2:40:58 PM PDT by Osage Orange (Marine Sniper - "You can run, but you'll just die tired!")
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To: MayflowerMadam
I think maybe you heard something you didn't.

How do you feel about the incident?

I think your bathroom breaks should count against your vacation.

Workplace wellness is a serious issue. DEAL WITH IT!

33 posted on 09/06/2011 2:48:26 PM PDT by Osage Orange (Marine Sniper - "You can run, but you'll just die tired!")
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To: Osage Orange

I gained and lost a thousand pounds. Unfortunately, I ended up exactly where I started. My biggest victory was losing about 80 pounds over two weeks. Unfortunately I gained a hundred pounds the next week. Before I got bored I logged my calories, I was eating about 22,000 calories a day and losing weight and then cutting back to 500 and gaining weight.

The computer made a fancy graph.


34 posted on 09/06/2011 5:02:00 PM PDT by dangerdoc (see post #6)
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To: dangerdoc
Holy smokes!!!

Do you have some cardiac or kidney dz?

35 posted on 09/06/2011 5:13:43 PM PDT by Osage Orange (Marine Sniper - "You can run, but you'll just die tired!")
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To: Osage Orange

Nope just frustration over having to fill out stupid forms to get a discount on my health insurance.


36 posted on 09/06/2011 5:32:48 PM PDT by dangerdoc (see post #6)
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To: Catmom

Well this sure as hell isn’t Overlake Hospital thats for sure........


37 posted on 09/06/2011 5:38:03 PM PDT by cmsgop ( The left always accuses the right for the sins of the left. from FReeper Just Lori, RIP)
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To: dangerdoc
Okay.

But I'd think you have some other problems....

Hope you get them addressed.

38 posted on 09/06/2011 5:38:21 PM PDT by Osage Orange (Marine Sniper - "You can run, but you'll just die tired!")
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To: Catmom
I would notify the Washington State Department of Insurance. This is fraud.

RCW 48.135.010

(1) "Insurance fraud" means an act or omission committed by a person who, knowingly, and with intent to defraud, commits, or conceals any material information concerning, one or more of the following:

(a) Presenting, causing to be presented, or preparing with knowledge or belief that it will be presented to or by an insurer, insurance producer, or surplus line broker, false information as part of, in support of, or concerning a fact material to one or more of the following:

(i) An application for the issuance or renewal of an insurance policy;

(ii) The rating of an insurance policy or contract;

(iii) A claim for payment or benefit pursuant to an insurance policy;

(iv) Premiums paid on an insurance policy;

(v) Payments made in accordance with the terms of an insurance policy; or

(vi) The reinstatement of an insurance policy;

39 posted on 09/06/2011 5:44:47 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Osage Orange

Your missing his point I think. I understood.


40 posted on 09/06/2011 5:52:21 PM PDT by listenhillary (Look your representatives in the eye and ask if they intend to pay off the debt. They will look away)
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