• BENEFITS UPDATE
• 2010 HEALTH INSURANCE
• PCL CHANGES
• Accessing The Hub
• AFA Local Numbers

Dear Members,

BENEFITS UPDATE
SEPTEMBER, 2009

I. FLU SHOTS

Free flue shots will be available for US airways employees when you present your medical card.

10/15/09 BOS 8 am - 4 pm
10/20/08 CLT 2:30 pm - 8 pm
10/20/09 DCA 10 am - 3 pm
10/21/09 DCA 12 noon - 8 pm
10/21/09 LGA 8 am - 4 pm
10/22/09 CLT 6 am - 4 pm
11/3/09 PHL 6 am - 3 pm
11/4/09 PHL 11 am - 6 pm

II. SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY TRAVEL

US Airways has sent letter to flight attendants who are on Social Security Disability and have 10 years of service as a flight attendant before going out on SSDI, notifying them that their unlimited travel benefits are going to two passes for the duration of their leave. The MEC has filed a grievance against US Airways on this issue as it is believed that this violates Section 20-9 and Side Letter 44 of our contract.

The Company is offering flight attendants an opportunity to resign/retire which will restore their unlimited travel benefits. Before taking any action be sure to look at any health insurance. dental, or vision insurance benefits that may be lost as well as any LTD income that would be discontinued.

III. BENEFITS ENROLLMENT

Annual Benefits enrollment is from October 15 - 30, 2009. This is the ONLY TIME YOU CAN SIGN UP UNLESS YOU HAVE A LIFE CHANGING EVENT. (Marriage, Divorce, birth of a child, death, etc.).

You must go in this year and add your dependent's social security number. Also go in and make sure your have a designated beneficiary for your Life Insurance and optional AD & D Insurance.

After you go into your account print out a copy of your benefit page. Review what is on this print out and make sure it is correct. If there is a mistake and you have no printout there can be no changes after 10/30/09.

Benefit payments for 2010 are as follows (what is deducted monthly form your paycheck):

HEALTH INSURANCE

PPO 100%
Employee $109.05 Increase: $20.73
Employee and Spouse $217.61 Increase: $41.36
Employee and Child $206.94 Increase: $39.33
Employee and Family $359.76 Increase $68.38

PPO 90%
Employee $56.87 Decrease $2.93
Employee and Spouse 113.74 Decrease $5.86
Employee and Child $108.05 Decrease $5.57
Employee and Family $187.94 Decrease $9.68

PPO 80%
Employee $20.49 Decrease $7.11
Employee and Spouse $40.97 Decrease $14.23
Employee and Child $38.96 Decrease $13.54
Employee and Family $67.96 Decrease $23.50

DENTAL INSURANCE
Employee Increase $.16
Employee and Spouse Increase $.31
Employee and Child Increase $.30
Employee and Family Increase $.51

VISON INSURNACE
No Price Increase for 2010
 

2010 HEALTH INSURANCE

There are a number of changes in the health insurance program for the 2010 benefit year.

1. Medical provider networks will be based on geographic location. See the map in your benefits book provided by US Airways.

The means that 2,000 employees will change from BCBS TO UHC and 14,500 FRM UHC TO BCBS.

2. For those employees who believe that they have no coverage please documentation and send to me like we did three years ago. That means the names of physicians, hospitals, labs, radiology sites, etc., and location. Please send your information to me at pfrishkorn@afausairways.org.

3. There is no impact on the level of benefit coverage (both plans are the same) and your ability to choose between the 3 existing medical plans (80%, 90%, 100%).

4. Premiums are increasing on the 100% plan but decreasing on the 80% and 90% plans.

5. Currently US Airways has about 68,000 covered lives on its health insurance for active and retired employees (employee, spouse and child). Last year 6,217 members had zero claims on their health insurance. This means no annual physical, no mammogram, etc. Only 1,576 spent more than $20,000 in health care cost with their insurance plan. (What insurance paid, not the employee)

6. You will have the opportunity to use a benefits calculator on the web site to assist you in choosing your level of coverage. Please look at the maximum out of pocket expenses for the 90% plan ($1,500 single, $3000- 2 or more people on the plan) and 80% plan ($3,000 single and $6,000 -2 or more people.)

The benefits calculator helps you determine how much money you spend on prescription and co-payment for physician visits. This will help you calculate your money for the Flexible Spending Account. The Flexible Spending Account allows you the opportunity to put aside pre-tax dollars and get reimbursed for your medical expenses. Remember if you have money left at the end of the year - you loose it, so plan carefully.

The benefits calculator will also assist you in deciding if the 80%PPO, 90% PPO or 100% PPO is the best plan for your medical needs. The 100% PPO is the most costly and this may not be the plan for you. For some people and their health care spending, the 80%PPO or 90% PPO may be the better plan. Remember that health care is a very important and the final selection should be the one that best meets your needs.

PCL CHANGES

Important changes to the PCL program will begin on November 1, 2009 for both line holders and reserves.

Intermittent PCL Leave
Line Holders

1. Intermittent PCL will charge your sick bank for the amount of any trips missed,

2. The 5 days begins with the first day you call off sick and moves forward five (5) days

3. If your intermittent PCL is for the care of a qualified family member, the entire five (5) day or more period will be unpaid

4. Recode request must be made within 15 days of the first sick call Failure to adhere to this 15 day window will result in your leave being denied and the sick call with remain. (Federal Rules and Regulations under FMLA).

Reserves

1. Intermittent PCL will only charge your sick time at the rate of 3:30 per day for any days that Crew Scheduling would have utilized you. You will not be charge d sick time for INV or OFF days or for days you were not utilized. (No sick time? Your guarantee will be reduced.)

2. If your intermittent PLC is for the care of a qualified family member, the entire five (5) day or more period will be unpaid. Please remember that your reserve guarantee will be reduced.

3. Recode request must be made within 15 days of the first sick call. Failure to adhere to the 15 day window will result in your leave being denied and the sick call will remain (Federal Rules and Regulations under FMLA.)

Paul Frishkorn
MEC Benefits Chair
PFrishkorn@afausairways.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AFA US Airways Website

www.afausairways.org

Accessing The Hub:

http://thehub.usairways.com 
Logging in the first time your user name is u0(zero) and your five digit employee number. Your initial password is the first five digits of your social security number. Questions about the Hub? Please contact the EDS Help Desk at 336-744-6000 for assistance. More information can also be found HERE.

AFA Local Numbers
 
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 69 BOS 781-289-8454
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 82 LGA 315-736-3483
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325

New Hotline Number Toll Free: 866-USA-AFA2
US AIRWAYS Benefits Information 800-872-4780

Reply to Inflight: askinflight@usairways.com

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