2014 Pfizer Medical Plans?

Discussion in 'Pfizer' started by Anonymous, Sep 25, 2013 at 3:27 PM.

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  1. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    BINGO. Yes. Obama promised not to let Medicare negotiate prices if they helped to support him and ObamaCare.

    Well a big problem with Medicare is NOT negotiating prices on drugs, DME, devices, labs, etc. Our Medicare and Government Health Care Systems will go broke unless they negotiate prices.

    We have fixed the root of the Problems.

    Follow the Money.
     

  2. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Got my statement and options for 2014 in the mail.

    I called 800 number and in less that 5 mins I renewed my Dental and Medicare Buy up with United health care. Dental stayed the same at 96/mo for spouse and self while health ins went from 140 to 170. Still a decent deal for sure.
     
  3. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    You're right - that's a great deal. Current Pfizer retirees need to remember they are part of a pampered minority where somebody else is paying for most of their retiree medical care. Maybe then they'll start having some real empathy for those who have no healthcare coverage at all and for future Pfizer retirees, who will be paying double and triple the out-of-pocket cost for healthcare.
     
  4. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Does that mean it's time for a "national" health plan?? How about negotiating the cost of meds which the government pays about what....60% of. As a L-W employee I remember what happened when the government increased WIC - which buys baby formula for families "in need" (and I use the term "in need" loosely!). They were buying over half the baby formula produced in this country and gave it to families for free through WIC checks! Wyeth got out of the business in the US and only sold it in the rest of the world. (As you are aware-Pfizer sold the Nutritional division when they acquired Wyeth). Unfortunately, rising healthcare costs does not bode well for the Pharmaceutical industry. Generics (over 85% of the market), MCO formularies and government purchasing controls drug costs. Look what's happening to all the jobs! It's only a matter of time when the government takes the necessary steps to control healthcare cost. Docs know it-which is why most steer their kids away from medicine. You can make more money in Finance, engineering, etc, without the the tremendous debt and hassles of being a MD!! I see the future of medicine in this country and it's not great. It seems people ( and most politicians) want socialism...be careful what you wish for! Hope I am wrong.
     
  5. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    I can assure you these prices are not for the current retiree, if in fact, they are for a retiree. They are much higher that these. As far as who is paying for what. You seem to forget that we once worked, and, as you said, I guess we helped pay for retirees health insurance back then. I really don't think this is how it works. If this is how you're thinking goes, us retirees established many of the popular drugs that Pfizer had at one time and still does. A new representative starting today has nothing to do with getting a product established or the existing sales. So please don't lecture us on who is paying for what. It doesn't work that way. As a healthcare company who is in the business of keeping patients healthy, I feel Pfizer should be a leader in providing healthcare coverage. Yes, do I feel empathy for those who have no insurance coverage. However, there are many social programs provided today to help those who are less fortunate. Please, in the future, no more lectures on how we should feel so fortunate. I made the choice to pay for my own college education, I made the decision to go into this sales field, I made the decision to make a career with Pfizer, I made the decision to be a loyal and very effective representative for Pfizer, and I have no regrets on receiving these benefits that were promised to me for the many years I worked hard, was away from my family many nights and weekends, and put up with all the changes over the years. I'm proud to have retired from this company. Please don't make us feel guilty as a retiree.
     
  6. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    I heard a physician bluntly speak today about our new national healthcare plan. Basically he spoke of how the insurance companies will benefit and how people over a certain age will not get transplants, etc. unless they are quite wealthy. This is how it has been in europe for quite some time. It is a scam, folks, wake up. Europe is taxed tremendously and that will happen here also if we ever try to balance the deficit we just keep putting out with a guy who spends like a "child" and needs to be put on an "allownace." State want minimum wage to $10 per hr. and the state of Washington wants $15. You can decide for yourself where it is all going.................blurp, blurp, blurp.
     
  7. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    I beg to differ. I am a current retiree and those in fact are my 2014 rates...96 for Dental and 170 UHC Medicare Buy Up...Like I said still a good deal
     
  8. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    what age, and what transplants? are you talking about hair follicle transplants? if that's the case I'll be pissed!

    I heard some guy tried to get an organ transplant (liver) in Europe, they told him they wouldn't do it until he lost weight, quit smoking, stopped drinking, and demonstrated he could walk on a treadmill for at least 10 minutes at 2mph. 18 months later the guy died without the transplant.

    This is what we can look forward to in the US. if we choose to get fat, smoke, drink, and sit on our ass every day, the govt. will tell us no transplants. Who do they think they are? I for one hope all my tax dollars are wasted on people with bad health habits. If you think about it, unhealthy people are hoping healthy people get hit by cars so our organs will be available.
     
  9. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    My premium for the Medicare Buy Up is $499.00 per month. This is for myself on Medicare and my wife who is a year away from Medicare. Like I said, the rates you have are definitely not representative of most retirees. It depends a great deal on when you retired too. I agree, your rates are a very good deal.
     
  10. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    That is the difference; your wife is not on Medicare so you are still paying more for her. Mine are lower because both of us have Medicare for primary and UHC buy up as supplemental.

    You will see a rate drop when she goes on Medicare as Primary.
     
  11. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest


    So spoke a wannabe death panel member.
     
  12. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest


    No, this is incorrect.
    We are both enrolled in Medicare. Our UHC Medicare Buy Up premium for 2014 is $575/month. $500 deductible with maxiumu $3500 out of pocket. Retired 2009.
     
  13. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    We retirees are just lucky to have coverage. How many hundreds of thousands of people have had their insurance coverage cancelled or drastically cut due to Obamacare? To top it off, the mess continues.
     
  14. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Retirees think they are entitled to the very best medical care that's mostly paid for by somebody else but they are against anyone else getting support for medical care. Obamacare is the only way millions of working people will get any healthcare coverage but retirees are solidly against it and determined to bring it down. It's hard to imagine anything more selfish.

    It's time we stopped pampering retirees and dragged them into the real world the rest of us have to live in - cut medicare from 80% coverage to 50%. That's how much they've paid in for it anyway and it would go a long way to wiping out the deficit.
     
  15. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest


    Doesn't most people want the very best medical care they can get? As a retiree, I am not against anyone receiving healthcare. In the last five years the taxpayers of this country has given out over 3.5 trillion dollars in social programs to help those in need. If you consider this as being selfish, then perhaps you need to move to another country.

    I'm sure you have told your parents that they are being pampered way too much. Tell them you want to cut medicare from 80% to 50%. I remind you that you pay the same percentage of your wages that we paid into. We were told to pay this percent. It wasn't our choice. Don't try to make us feel as though we're ripping the system off.

    While you were in middle school, high school, and college, we were working and paying taxes before you paid into the system. If we had our way, we'd cut the deficit by cutting back on some of the social programs that haven't proven to be effective. It's not us spending all the money. In the future, just remember you're going to be on the medicare rolls and you might have another opinion. Folks like you have no idea.
     
  16. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest



    probably a waste of effort, but I will try anyway.
    your inadequate healthcare coverage and no healthcare "coverage" at all is not the same thing as no healthcare. everyone in the country, legal or otherwise, is required to be provided healthcare if they show up at a hospital. the argument is over what would be a more effective and cost efficient way to provide healthcare. the initial rollout of aca shows what a splendid job the government can do.
    bankruptcies are a nice legal way to protect your assets when you have overwhelming bills. also probably not the most efficient way to deal with things.
    your conservatives and Boehner comment is ignorant and not worth response
    . our healthcare system also does a nice job of taking care of people with means from other countries who flee their government run systems to come here for coverage.

    your viewpoint is sad and filled with half-truths
     
  17. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest


    Trust me, we're not getting any breaks from Pfizer as far as medical coverage. A couple both enrolled in Medicare can purchase their own supplement that pays for everything that medicare doesn't pay i.e., the 20% and that's with no deductible. The "Cadillac" supplement F is actually much less than what Pfizer charges us for their so called medicare buy up. It's a ripoff. I checked with my insurance agent and was amazed. Most insurance companies are not increasing their premiums at the rate Pfizer is. I would advise anyone to check this out, you'll be amazed. Keep the Pfizer prescription plan and buy your own supplement. I was amazed at what I learned.
     
  18. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Just wanted to add my costs to this conversation. I retired in 2009 under the Pharmacia plan. Individual coverage in 2013 is $86/mo. Jan 1 I am enrolled in Medicare, will be paying $86 for the Pfizer insurance, plus whatever Medicare costs.