UPS to End Health Benefits for Some Working Spouses of Employees

[kytwell 179]

Full article---http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323980604579027082775945544.html

The Atlanta-based package delivery giant said in an internal memo to employees last month that rising costs for coverage of chronic and other health conditions, "combined with the costs associated with the Affordable Care Act, have made it increasingly difficult to continue providing the same level of health care benefits to our employees at an affordable cost." The change will affect about 15,000 spouses, UPS said—slightly fewer than half of the 33,000 spouses who are covered today under its health plan for nonunionized workers.

[Jacque67 7,328]

hope nobody goes postal

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

My employer did this several years ago. I can cover my spouse only if she does not have access to employer coverage of her own. This has nothing to do with Obamacare and everything to do with the insane cost of health care and thus health care coverage in this country.

[kytwell 179]

"combined with the costs associated with the Affordable Care Act, have made it increasingly difficult to continue providing the same level of health care benefits to our employees at an affordable cost."

While I know of some other companies that did it years ago too, they didn't have the ACA to blame it on then.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

While I know of some other companies that did it years ago too, they didn't have the ACA to blame it on then.

That is true. They blamed it solely on the rising cost of health care coverage which really is the sole reason why employers have become more strict in covering employee spouses and domestic partners.

[GandD 5,966]

Its a nice scapegoat. Once again, God forbid a company have to share rising costs with their employee.

[Teddy B 17,251]

My employer did this several years ago. I can cover my spouse only if she does not have access to employer coverage of her own. This has nothing to do with Obamacare and everything to do with the insane cost of health care and thus health care coverage in this country.

It's $40 cheaper per week for my wife and I to have two separate healthcare plans from our respective employers, rather than a single family plan.

My work switched over to a PPO with a $1,000 deductible two years ago, my wife's plan is basically the same.

Its a nice scapegoat. Once again, God forbid a company have to share rising costs with their employee.

True dat! I'm so tired of greedy companies and stockholders who don't give a rats ####### about the lifeblood of their company. Trickle down economics my #######. More like trickle down my leg and tell me it's raining.

[Peikko 1,575]

American health care is insane. Until everyone decides that basic health care is a necessity not a luxury and implements health care as a non profit business, insurance companies will continue to exploit the rich pickings in the profitable areas and neglect the rest. It's a brilliant strategy for the US, Kudos!

Edited August 22, 2013 by The Truth™