Getting medical coverage back and thrilled!!

[sonny1]

I have to share. Since finding out Saturday that I was approved for Disability Retirement through NYS (where my pension is through), I will not only get my medical back, but also get it back for my husband! It's going to cost us $125.00 a month for both of us. We have been paying $958.00 a month for over a year now and it has just about gotten to the point of losing it. Not to mention the plan we have been paying out the backside for....isn't even that good. No eye coverage, Hospital deductible $500 a visit, doctor copay $40, prescription copays $30, 50 etc.....

It is weird to think I am "retired" at 41 yrs. of age, even though it is for medical reasons. I worked for the City for only 11 yrs., so I know my pension won't be much, but I didn't care one bit about that...I just wanted my medical coverage back. BUT....I won't turn extra $$$$ away either no matter how little it is. Since being retired, I have to do what retired folks do....TRAVEL!!

[1171]

i suspect those benefits were part of a union negotiated contract.
be thankful both you and your husband were union members and worked for a unionized employer.

you are fortunate to have had a strong union. the 1% of this country are working overtime to dismantle those remaining unions and union benefits so they can soon be in the top One-Half %.
no matter how much they have there are always those who want to take more for themselves.

[sonny1]

I am very thankful for what I have. Yes, that was part of a union contract. My husband was not an employee of the City or any union. I am able to carry him on my policy as a retiree, just as I did as an employee. I will say that I hear a lot of people and their misinformation about certain government/union workers. I did have a good job with good benefits, however, I did not make top dollar. I paid union dues monthly and I paid a percentage of my pay weekly to the NYS retirement system. Some People think all government workers make the big bucks like what the Department heads make (the $150,000 annually). I am in no way complaining about what I made because I got great time off, vacation, sick, personal, holiday pay. There are so many more people in the private sector who probably make way more in their salary than I would have ever made in my range of government. My big union raises were between 2-3% a year!!! yea right, where as the people complaining are probably getting 6-8%. Well at least this is the stuff I read in the newspapers here where I live. It bothers me because they don't know the truth. I disagreed with things the union stood for, like protecting the lazy, useless, intoxicated employees who knew they could act however they wanted and get away with it.

[sonny1]

I am very thankful for what I have. Yes, that was part of a union contract. My husband was not an employee of the City or any union. I am able to carry him on my policy as a retiree, just as I did as an employee. I will say that I hear a lot of people and their misinformation about certain government/union workers. I did have a good job with good benefits, however, I did not make top dollar. I paid union dues monthly and I paid a percentage of my pay weekly to the NYS retirement system. Some People think all government workers make the big bucks like what the Department heads make (the $150,000 annually). I am in no way complaining about what I made because I got great time off, vacation, sick, personal, holiday pay. There are so many more people in the private sector who probably make way more in their salary than I would have ever made in my range of government. My big union raises were between 2-3% a year!!! yea right, where as the people complaining are probably getting 6-8%. Well at least this is the stuff I read in the newspapers here where I live. It bothers me because they don't know the truth. I disagreed with things the union stood for, like protecting the lazy, useless, intoxicated employees who knew they could act however they wanted and get away with it.

[Bummer Knees]

Sonny I am a union supporter! I live in the area of Wichita, Kansas where the large aircraft plants are.

My father worked for Beech Aircraft starting in sheet metal, then on to tool & dye, when he retired he was a laxman and would fly to different plants, he was known as the trouble shooter. His job was when something went wrong to figure things out and fix it. He had almost 50 years in at Beech when he retired.

My Dad was a union worker, back then the Machinest Union was very strong and workers were know to take pride in their work. Just thought I would share.

[lucky]

I also am a Union Supporter. This is one of the main reasons I remain a Democrat. And yes, The 1% are trying to dissolve organized labor.

[sonny1]

Thank you all! Even though I was a lower level "office staff" I was in the union. I was proud to be (even though it had it's draw backs to the hardworking honest people as I stated.) People have a way of making us feel guilty for being part of that. I am very thankful for having the benefits that I had and will have again due to my "medical retirement".....HOWEVER, I chose to take Civil service exams for years to get into that kind of job, knowing full well that I would never get rich. I sometimes took 3 and 4 exams in one day. This went on for years. I left a higher paying job to start with the City, for stability, looking at the big picture and union! Some people go for jobs that pay the big bucks, I chose stability over the long haul. These "hater" people that write in to our local papers complaining, they want it both ways. They want the Big money now and the safety later....it doesn't always work out that way. My husband owns what's left of a small business and I looked for something that would help us in areas that his business couldn't. Retirement, medical, paid time off, investments and stability....ya never know owning your own business!!

[sonny1]

Thank you all! Even though I was a lower level "office staff" I was in the union. I was proud to be (even though it had it's draw backs to the hardworking honest people as I stated.) People have a way of making us feel guilty for being part of that. I am very thankful for having the benefits that I had and will have again due to my "medical retirement".....HOWEVER, I chose to take Civil service exams for years to get into that kind of job, knowing full well that I would never get rich. I sometimes took 3 and 4 exams in one day. This went on for years. I left a higher paying job to start with the City, for stability, looking at the big picture and union! Some people go for jobs that pay the big bucks, I chose stability over the long haul. These "hater" people that write in to our local papers complaining, they want it both ways. They want the Big money now and the safety later....it doesn't always work out that way. My husband owns what's left of a small business and I looked for something that would help us in areas that his business couldn't. Retirement, medical, paid time off, investments and stability....ya never know owning your own business!!