You might be able to couple a 401K plan with the insurance. Possibilities could include a "cafe plan" allowing individuals to modify the plan to suit their individual needs: deductibles, catastrophic only, etc. and the 401K does need to be a level weekly/monthly amount. People could stuff it when working and take a break when not. Have you already contacted multiple agents for offers?So far all I have done is sent out the email to everyone to see if there was interest. We will begin looking into it this week to see what is reasonable, and what is not. I prefer Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Etna... But we will have to see what happens.
I have been approached by MANY people, suggesting that I offer group insurance for nuclear workers. In recent months, the request has come more frequently from more sources. I believe that we can work out a deal where all nuclear workers can get a group rate as NukeWorker members. This rate should be better than what most companies can offer. In fact, I'm proposing that while you are working, your company take the money they would normally pay towards your insurance, and send it to us to cover your plan (pre tax). Then, when you get laid off, you won't have to worry about cobra, and setting up new insurance. And you won't have to worry about the different plans from different companies.
I'll get some rates for different levels of coverage as well. Some people only want major medical with a large deductible; others want full coverage with a small deductible. We will offer several options.
What does everyone think? I know less than nothing about insurance, but I am willing to make this happen, to help everyone out. How many people are interested in this?
Michael, thanks for the inquiry. I am an independent broker in Chattanooga. I am contracted with Blue Cross Blue Shield, United, John Deere, Humana, and Principal. My sense is that Blue Cross Blue Shield would be your best carrier. They do a great job with national companies. I have already talked with my underwriter at Blue Cross about your situation. They would be interested in talking with you about a self funded arrangement (they will not do a fully insured arrangement). This means that they would offer their administrative services for a small fee. They pay your claims, and your association reimburses them periodically for the claim amounts.
I would like to talk with you in more detail if you are interested. My contact information is listed below.
1. Currently the offering of medical coverage is a recruiting advantage to those staffing firms willing and able to provide it. Having NukeWorker.com offer it will tend to nullify that competetive advantage, so you are indirectly affecting someone's recruiting rice bowl.
2. Group rates without a pre-qualifying physical are a throw of the dice for the insurer, and generally assume that the policyholder is healthy enough to work the job that offers the insurance. To keep rates low, issuers have to exclude some people. You WILL get grief from nukeworkers regarding "why are you being cold-hearted and excluding my loved one (who has disqualifying conditions)..."
3. Likewise, do you want the grief when "my loved one needs this $2 million treatment, why dont you offer more coverage, can't you make an exception and allow it, etc." Or litigation if policy holders dont get their way.
I think it is awesome that you are offering this.
Michael, thanks for taking the time to give me the complete situation. Unfortunately, I think that getting a group health policy to meet your needs will be a long shot. Health carriers typically have the following rules for establishing a fully insured group health policy:
1. 50% of eligible employees must participate
2. employer must pay at least 50% of the employee's premium
3. must have employer / employee relationship
Rule 1 is so that the carrier gets a fair element of risk. If a carrier agreed to insure a company and covered only 10% of eligible employees, in theory, they would a large portion of the least healthy employees. Rule 2 is to encourage rule 1. If the employer pays half of the employee's premium, there is not typically a problem in getting 50% participation. Rule 3 is an eligibility control i.e. to ensure that an employer (owner) does not use the policy to secure coverage for his sick friend, aunt, neighbor, etc.
We can get around these rules with a self insured policy, but starting with only 100 or so employees, I think it would be too risky for you.
Michael, I would be glad to talk with you more about this. I am a former Underwriter, so I understand financial arrangements and carrier policy.
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1-800-709-7809
https://www.humana-one.com
Phoenix, Arizona $500 $234.00 $500 $388.02
Denver, Colorado $500 $270.22 $500 $457.97
Miami, Florida $500 $407.40 $500 $680.38
Atlanta, Georgia $500 $351.39 $500 $582.58
Chicago, Illinois $500 $332.55 $500 $551.32
Indianapolis, Indiana $500 $308.36 $500 $511.22
Burlington, Kansas $500 $361.27 $500 $598.93
Paducah, Kentucky $500 $234.18 $500 $388.26
New Orleans, Louisiana $500 $308.63 $500 $511.64
Pontiac, Michigan $500 $262.79 $500 $435.75
Jefferson City, Missouri $500 $283.87 $500 $470.68
Springfield, Ohio $500 $225.64 $500 $374.14
Oak Ridge, Tennessee $500 $248.34 $500 $411.75
Lubbock, Texas $500 $389.80 $500 $646.15
Milwaukee, Wisconsin $500 $321.02 $500 $532.24
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99501 Anchorage, Alaska
BCBS of Alaska PPO 80/20 Plan $500 $300.60 $500 $596.70
36601 Mobil, Alabama
Celtic PPO 80/20 Plan $500 $415.80 $500 $825.30
72324 Birdeye, Arkansas
Blue Solution PPO BCBS of Arkansas $750 $131.96 $500 $289.05
94704 Berkeley, California
Individual Select HMO BCBS of California $0 $314.00 $500 $605.00
81248 White Pine, Colorado
BluePreferred $5k Coinsurance
BCBS of Colorado $500 $294.30 $500 $518.40
06103 Hartford, Connecticut
Celtic AnyDoc PPO 80/20 Plan $500 $389.93 $250 $888.69
20024 Fort McNair, Washington DC
BCBS CareFirst BluePreferred $500 $239.00 $500 $478.00
32359 Steinhatchee, Florida
Humana HumanaOne Individual $500 $275.20 $500 $578.88
19808 Marshallton, Delaware
Celtic PPO 80/20 Plan $500 $339.30 $500 $615.60
30120 Euharlee, Georgia
Kaiser Permanent Plan B $500 $256.00 $500 $450.00
96708 Haiku, Hawaii
Kaiser Permanent $20 Plan $0 $191.84 $500 $382.68
83604 Riddle, Idaho
BCBS of Idaho BlueCare PPO 1000 $1,000 $293.08 $500 $496.75
62216 Germantown, Illinois
Aetna IL PPO 500 $250 $315.66 $500 $559.00
47441 Vicksburg, Indiana
Anthem, BCBS of Indiana
Blue Access - Plan 2 $250 $382.06 $500 $532.00
50226 Crocker, Iowa
Celtic PPO 80/20 Plan $500 $270.90 $500 $491.40
67758 Sharon, Knasas
Humana HumanaOne Individual $500 $361.21 $500 $598.93
42633 Bethesda, Kentucky
HumanaOne Plan $500 $268.33 $500 $442.37
70775 Saint Francisville, Louisiana
BCBS of Louisiana HMO/POS Plan 1 $0 $380.62 $0 $623.58
04549 Boothbay, Maine
20680 Ridge, Maryland
BCBS of Maryland Personal Comp $500 $200 $500 $400.00
02215 Kenmore, Massachusetts
48230 Detroit, Michigan
BCBS of Michigan Individual Care $500 $335.70 $0 $532.85
55426 Minneapolis, Minnesota
BCBS of Minnesota Aware CareSM Plan $500 $264.00 $500 $475.50
39150 Port Gibson, Mississippi
Celtic Managed Indemnity 80/20 Plan $500 $581.24 $500 $1,039.04
65721 Springfield, Missouri
BCBS of Missouri BlueCHOICE $0 $366.00 $0 $603.00
59071 Alpine, Montana
Celtic Managed Indemnity 80/20 Plan $500 $394.20 $500 $747.90
68009 Blair, Nebraska
Celtic Managed Indemnity 80/20 Plan $250 $404.1 $500 $747.00
89833 Shantytown, Nevada
PacifiCare Signature Options PPO Plan 2 $500 $410.00 $500 $747.71
03304 Bow, New Hampshire
08731 Forked River, New Jersey
Oxford NJ Individual HMO Plan $15 copay $0 $538.56 $0 $1,167.20
88201 Roswell, New Mexico
BCBS of New Mexico BlueChoice $250 $352.92 $250 $605.60
13693 Three Mile Bay, New York
GHI - GHI Alliance Value Plan $0 $283.54 $0 $679.98
28164 Stanley, North Carolina
Blue Advantage - Plan B $500 $263.42 $500 $464.48
58580 Zap, North Dakota
Fortis PPO X-tra $1,000 $280.46 $1,000 $465.41
43782 Shawnee, Ohio
BCBC of Ohio Blue Access - Plan 2 $250 $358.04 $500 $479.54
73759 Medford, Oklahoma
Golden Rule Copay 35 $750 $299.04 $750 $482.38
97620 Adel, Oregon
LifeWise Preferred $500 $304.00 $500 $606.00
17272 Zullinger, Pennsylvania
Golden Rule Copay 25 $500 $417.00 $500 $465.00
29835 Britts, South Carolina
Celtic Select PPO 80/20 Plan $500 $418.40 $500 $744.30
57720 Buffalo, South Dakota
Celtic AnyDoc PPO 80/20 Plan $500 $298.80 $500 $541.80
38135 Bartlett, Tennessee
BCBS of Tennessee PPO Plan $500 $304.86 $500 $522.26
77536 Deer Park, Texas
Aetna PPO 500 $500 $375.00 $500 $781.00
84101 Salt Lake City, Utah
BCBS of Utah BlueAdvantage Copay Plan $500 $217.80 $500 $401.50
05661 Cadys Falls, Vermont
24201 Bristol, Virginia
UniCare UNICARE 500 $500 $250.00 $500 $422.00
98220 Acme, Washington
BCBS of Washington Breakthru 80 Plan $500 $305.00 $500 $557.00
25059 Dixie, West Virginia
54739 Elk Mound, Wisconsin
Humana HumanaOne Plan With Office Visit Copay, $0 Rx Deductible
$500 $324.25 $500 $534.20
82942 Point of Rocks, Wyoming
Celtic Managed Indemnity 80/20 Plan $500 $360.90 $500 $655.20
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Update:Mike, I haven't seen any conversation from you on this topic. Could you comment?
I'm gathering the questions the insurance companies are going to ask me, i.e. demographics. When I know what the questions are, I will create a web form with them. I'll then send out the email asking people to take the survey.
Once I have a data base of the demographics, and how many initial participants we have, I can start to shop for insurance. I have talked to many people about all of the options available. We are progressing at a snails pace, but we are still moving forward. It could take years to get this going, but I am hoping it will be less than 12 months.
Let me tell you one thing, the interest is there, and I want to help people. This will happen at one level or another, eventually.
Mike, I haven't seen any conversation from you on this topic. Could you comment?The thread you are posting to is 4 years old. Nothing has been done in 4 years, because it was decided that it wouldn't work.