Y2Julio Posted April 20, 2009 Share #76 Posted April 20, 2009 can someone comment on the disgusting dental coverage T/Os have? I'm guessing it's provided by a British health insurance company? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfnyc Posted April 21, 2009 Share #77 Posted April 21, 2009 can someone comment on the disgusting dental coverage T/Os have? Usually, dental coverage is part of the benefits package provided by a union. Therefore, it varies by title and union. I defer to the members of the TWU to comment on their dental benefits. I don't know what coverage the union provides for T/Os. Also, in general, if you use a preferred provider under your covered plan, your coverage and reimbursement is always higher than if you go out of network. Health benefits are very complex. One former colleague once said "Health benefits are like panty hose; one size does not fit all." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SubwayGuy Posted April 21, 2009 Share #78 Posted April 21, 2009 Usually, dental coverage is part of the benefits package provided by a union. Therefore, it varies by title and union. I defer to the members of the TWU to comment on their dental benefits. I don't know what coverage the union provides for T/Os. Also, in general, if you use a preferred provider under your covered plan, your coverage and reimbursement is always higher than if you go out of network. Health benefits are very complex. One former colleague once said "Health benefits are like panty hose; one size does not fit all." That's exactly why healthcare is so problematic and why it needs to be overhauled. Healthcare here is expensive, tons of paperwork, you can't see the dr's you want to see, even if you do you have to see four others first...also read somewhere that something like half of people who go bankrupt it's because of medical bills... Sounds like from what I've heard the GHI sucks. My father had HIP when I was younger, I hated it, had to go to this ridiculous "center" long wait times, and some of the dr advice wasn't that great like having allergies "turn on the air conditioner" and it's 45 degrees out in March kind of thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dahon Posted April 21, 2009 Share #79 Posted April 21, 2009 Thats HMO and primary care when you have to go to the center or see your primary care doctor. There are other health plans that let you go to any internist you want, as long as they are in the system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfnyc Posted April 21, 2009 Share #80 Posted April 21, 2009 Thats HMO and primary care when you have to go to the center or see your primary care doctor. There are other health plans that let you go to any internist you want, as long as they are in the system. That is not an accurate statement. An HMO allows you to choose your primary care doctor. That doctor acts as a "gatekeeper" in coordinating your care with specialists. You can't make an appointment with a specialist without a referral from your primary care doctor who will evaluate the need for that referral. An HMO, by its very definition, seeks to coordinate your care and reduce unnecessary tests and visits to specialists. Other plans will allow you greater flexibility in self referral to a specialist. The bottom line is that "you get what you pay for" HIP has changed over the years and it allows a greater flexibility now than in the past. Again, health care and the choice of coverage and plans is a personal decision that fits the individual. This whole discussion, as it was pointed out above, highlights the inadequacies of our national health care system and the need for change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dahon Posted April 21, 2009 Share #81 Posted April 21, 2009 Sorry you misunderstood me. I'm not in the MTA, but my previous insurance Cigna Pro Choice allowed me to go to any doctor I wanted. When I needed to see a dermatologist I went right to the dermatologist. I never had to see a primary care physician. HMOs require that you see one first and get a referral, so you waste a lot of time just to see the right doctor. I guess the MTA only has HMO's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfnyc Posted April 21, 2009 Share #82 Posted April 21, 2009 Sorry you misunderstood me. I'm not in the MTA, but my previous insurance Cigna Pro Choice allowed me to go to any doctor I wanted. When I needed to see a dermatologist I went right to the dermatologist. I never had to see a primary care physician. HMOs require that you see one first and get a referral, so you waste a lot of time just to see the right doctor. I guess the MTA only has HMO's? No problem. You had good coverage with CIGNA. I agree that the freedom to see a specialist without a referral is the preferred way. I understand that the MTA has two health care options: HIP and GHI. As noted previously, they both have their limitations. The bottom line is that the job offers health benefits from which a member can choose the right plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jah Posted April 21, 2009 Share #83 Posted April 21, 2009 I guess the MTA only has HMO's? With GHI we can go to any doctor without a seeing you primary care doctor first as long as the specialist accepts GHI. The problem is alot of doctors aren't accepting GHI anymore. It doesn't matter what title you are in we all get the exact same benefits as hourly TA employees. The only difference is the higher paid titles like T/O pay ALOT more for those same benefits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexAveExp5 Posted June 24, 2009 Share #84 Posted June 24, 2009 does the MTA offer any sort of life insurance? also, any kind of perks other than a metrocard? like at the post office i get 25% off cell phone service from all 4 major cell phone companies and 50% off any accessories Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditja Posted June 24, 2009 Share #85 Posted June 24, 2009 does the MTA offer any sort of life insurance? also, any kind of perks other than a metrocard? like at the post office i get 25% off cell phone service from all 4 major cell phone companies and 50% off any accessories no, doesn't offer life insurance i got 19% off from verizon wireless, 20% off on data plan, 25% for accessories Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexAveExp5 Posted June 25, 2009 Share #86 Posted June 25, 2009 maybe you guys on the inside have a better grasp on my next question. does anyone think that by the time any of us are hired from this last test earlier this month, the retirement age will still be 55 for us? i know it will go up eventually but maybe the TWU can hold off a few more years and then only give up the unborn! lol i know im the unborn now but im talking about the unborn in 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trainmaster5 Posted June 25, 2009 Share #87 Posted June 25, 2009 No problem. You had good coverage with CIGNA. I agree that the freedom to see a specialist without a referral is the preferred way. I understand that the MTA has two health care options: HIP and GHI. As noted previously, they both have their limitations. The bottom line is that the job offers health benefits from which a member can choose the right plan. Unfortunately GHI and HIP are/have merged which leaves us SOL as far as choices go. There was some talk of trying to stop the merger a while back but things have gotten very quiet lately around the TWU local 100 house and the newspapers have jumped on the Tier 5 bandwagon instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zman Posted June 25, 2009 Share #88 Posted June 25, 2009 maybe you guys on the inside have a better grasp on my next question. does anyone think that by the time any of us are hired from this last test earlier this month, the retirement age will still be 55 for us? i know it will go up eventually but maybe the TWU can hold off a few more years and then only give up the unborn! lol i know im the unborn now but im talking about the unborn in 2013 You'll probably be 25 years service/55 age if you're hired before December 2009. Otherwise you could be staring 30/62 right in the face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Julio Posted June 25, 2009 Share #89 Posted June 25, 2009 You'll probably be 25 years service/55 age if you're hired before December 2009. Otherwise you could be staring 30/62 right in the face. Well considering that it takes a year for the list to be created, none of us will be hired this year from the recent T/O exam. So 30/62, here I come! :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locomotion69 Posted June 25, 2009 Share #90 Posted June 25, 2009 no, doesn't offer life insurancei got 19% off from verizon wireless, 20% off on data plan, 25% for accessories Sounds good,my t-mobile contract expires next month,going to switch to Verizon wireless. They do allow B/O's and T/O's to have their cell phones with them while on the job right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexAveExp5 Posted June 25, 2009 Share #91 Posted June 25, 2009 i heard they're still allowed to have it on their person but with the recent "text" crashes everywhere around the world, the MTA might try to ban it from your person altogether. as of now you're not allowed to talk or text while operating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locomotion69 Posted June 25, 2009 Share #92 Posted June 25, 2009 i heard they're still allowed to have it on their person but with the recent "text" crashes everywhere around the world, the MTA might try to ban it from your person altogether. as of now you're not allowed to talk or text while operating That would be a mistake if they did ban cell phones,for example during an emergency where you have to vacate the train or the bus due to a fire or the radio doesn't work. Communication is critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Julio Posted June 25, 2009 Share #93 Posted June 25, 2009 That would be a mistake if they did ban cell phones,for example during an emergency where you have to vacate the train or the bus due to a fire or the radio doesn't work. Communication is critical. as per MTA rules and regulations, train crews must check with control to confirm that their radios work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locomotion69 Posted June 25, 2009 Share #94 Posted June 25, 2009 as per MTA rules and regulations, train crews must check with control to confirm that their radios work. Yes,but that is before they start their shift but what about if something happens after. Do they have emergency phones in the subway tunnels like they do for the holland,lincoln tunnels? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2Julio Posted June 25, 2009 Share #95 Posted June 25, 2009 Yes,but that is before they start their shift but what about if something happens after. Do they have emergency phones in the subway tunnels like they do for the holland,lincoln tunnels? Emergency Telephones are located along the right-of-way throughout the System. Emergency Telephones are found at all Emergency Alarm Locations, indicated by Blue Lights in the subway and under river tunnels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex L. Posted June 26, 2009 Share #96 Posted June 26, 2009 Yes,but that is before they start their shift but what about if something happens after. Train crews are required to check their radios before EACH trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messino Posted June 28, 2009 Share #97 Posted June 28, 2009 Yes,but that is before they start their shift but what about if something happens after. Yep EXACTLY, half of the time their radios dont work in certain parts of the subway system, even police radios have been know to not work because of signal trouble. Sure the radios can work fine when you check them before your trip but thats because the train is already right next to a dispatchers office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexAveExp5 Posted September 28, 2009 Share #98 Posted September 28, 2009 can someone plz clarify the whole night/weekend differential thing? i know "its not 10 percent like everyone else" but what is the percent? someone mentioned its $1.41 per hour but is that what it says in the contract? is the weekend differential the same percentage as the night differential? are you paid both differentials on a weekend at night? id be willing to paypal $100 to anyone willing to send me a copy of the mta-twu agreement by the way. i have so many questions that i rather be answered by the contract than to have peoples spin on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trainmaster5 Posted September 28, 2009 Share #99 Posted September 28, 2009 can someone plz clarify the whole night/weekend differential thing? i know "its not 10 percent like everyone else" but what is the percent? someone mentioned its $1.41 per hour but is that what it says in the contract? is the weekend differential the same percentage as the night differential? are you paid both differentials on a weekend at night? id be willing to paypal $100 to anyone willing to send me a copy of the mta-twu agreement by the way. i have so many questions that i rather be answered by the contract than to have peoples spin on. What contract ? The arbitration award is in the court system. BTW most of what you read here is not spin. B/O 's, C/R 's, T/O 's and TSS' s are not spinning you. Read their posts. Our prejudices may show but there is truth in these posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex L. Posted September 28, 2009 Share #100 Posted September 28, 2009 can someone plz clarify the whole night/weekend differential thing? i know "its not 10 percent like everyone else" but what is the percent? someone mentioned its $1.41 per hour but is that what it says in the contract? is the weekend differential the same percentage as the night differential? are you paid both differentials on a weekend at night? id be willing to paypal $100 to anyone willing to send me a copy of the mta-twu agreement by the way. i have so many questions that i rather be answered by the contract than to have peoples spin on. Collective Bargaining Agreement between MTA-NYCT and TWU Local 100 This is the last time that Differential payments were mentioned. The odd percentages have not changed - only the dollar amounts they are based on. Please note that different titles have different rates - that's why nobody ever gives a percentage rate. Weekends and nights are paid at the same rate, since weekends are considered as really long nights (Friday 1800 to Monday 0559). Please contact me for PayPal info - and next time do some research before offering to pay people for easily accessed items. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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