As you well know, in 2008, the county commissioners voted to drop Blue Cross/Blue Shield medical insurance, forcing thousands of employees to change companies.
The change in insurance was to become effective January 1, 2009. It appears the county has dropped the ball. We have learned there are hundreds of police officers, fire personnel, retirees and their family’s without medical insurance.
Many people have yet to receive any documentation proving they have insurance. The finance department failed to deduct insurance payments for the last pay period. It would be logical to think if you don’t pay, you don’t have.
From all indications, the county is overwhelmed by the complaints and simply can’t handle it. After hours of trying to contact Employee Benefits via phone, employees are told if they have an medical emergency; just have the physicality call the county. They are joking right? What number do they call for such an emergency, the same one that takes the employees hours to get through?
It is nothing more than a crying shame this county has police and fireman risking their lives every single day, not knowing if they have medical insurance. It is a crying shame you have retired police and fireman who have dedicated the majority of their life risking their lives for this county, and have no medical insurance.
Shame on Vernon Jones, shame on the Board of Commissioners!
We ask for the public to contact their district commissioner and C.E.O. Ellis and demand this be immediately corrected. This situation is simply mind boggling.
Monday, January 5, 2009
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26 comments:
I called Cigna to confirm my medical insurance. They say they never heard of me, by name or SS# and far as they are concerned, I have to insurance. Makes me fill really good. Thank DeKalb County.
I received my insurance card from Cigna. Does that mean I'm insured?
We got our Cigna cards in the mail Saturday.
Did anyone really expect this to turn out any differently? It is not just the police department that is completely dysfunctional and a train wreck; it is the entire county government. Of course the employees deserve better, but Vernon Jones has been hiring idiots for key positions throughout the county government for eight years. There are some great employees in DeKalb County but leadership is the problem. There is an excuse around every corner and department heads are not held accountable for poor service.
We are headed toward becoming the Detroit of the South if things are not turned around. Mr. Ellis did not appoint these people and we know he did not create this train wreck. However, with the support he has from a lot of people he can play a key part in making the future much brighter for all of DeKalb County. Current conditions are unacceptable and heads need to roll! Mr. Ellis, please get your sword in hand and do what needs to be done so we can move forward in a positive direction for the first time in eight years.
Thank God I got on my wife's insurance instead of depending on this dysfunctional county. I hope no Police or Fire are injured on duty - nobody knows who, if anyone, is handling the county workman's comp.
Glad you got your card Saturday, cause I sure as hell haven't gotten mine yet!
Payroll deducted the premiums from my check but I have not gotten any insurance cards. Cigna says they have never heard of me and I am therefore not insured. Additionally they also told me that any coverage WILL NOT be retroactive to the 1st of January. So I guess I will just have to eat any medical expenses my family will have till the County decides to send them my information. Hey, do I get a refund on the premiums I have paid but not gotten anything in return? Yeah right lots of luck with that. I sure hope no one in my family gets hurt in the mean time.
Went to get my meds refilled today and you guessed it, no insurance. What the f--- is going on?!
Please have your family members and friends call and e-mail the county commissioners all day tomorrow. Apply pressure now. Not having health insurance is beyond unacceptable.
How much more can DKPD morale take? It's one thing to screw over your officers with money, equipment, and leadership. It's an entirely different thing to put the health of their families on the line! What has to happen to finally bring the travesty that this county has become to light?
So much for Bolton's retention rate for officers. You would think department heads of all people would be banging a fist for their employees about this. Sad to say, this is the beginning of the screwups Vernon left behind.
When I approached the pharmacy counter this morning to have my meds refilled, the doctor asked if the counties insurance has been straighten out yet. Of course the question was answered when I was denied. How embarrassing for the county when the doctors know how screwed up it is. Thanks DeKalb County for the dedication. I'll give back to the county as much as they are giving me.
I pray the taxpayers are backing us up on this insurance thing. Why are we not covered? I have a family to think about. I can't financially take medical hit, from a office visit with an illness or a major emergency.
I need a insurance bail out.
Good Grief Charlie Brown.
Does Tebo have insurance? CEO Ellis? Top ranks have insurance? Families? You know, you have officers/fireman that are diabetic, some people who require Dialysis treatments, required daily medications for life threatening diseases (besides working for Dekalb Government), etc etc. Blood thinner medication, Seizure medication. THIS IS INSANE and no one seems to be giving any answers!
Insurance bailout!....we need a heck of a lot more than that!
I'm relocating to Vermont.
Insurance bailout......how bout a Tebo bailout.............and bring alot of shovels!!!
Vernon did this.....knowing he was going out......he is sitting upon his throne right now ("whomever" that may be) - laughing his ass off at what he left behind.
Cigna told me to contact Human Resources and tell the to put in an EMERGENCY UPDATE - that way they (Cigna) will get it and have you on the books within 24 hours. I was finally able to contact a human in Human Resources late Tuesday afternoon - hopefully by close of business today my wife and I will exist and we can get on with our lives...
Good luck with that, they told be that on January 2 and my family still has no insurance.
I'm sick....Really sick. Sick of Bolton and his Clan....But wait...I can't get sick...I have no insurance......and there is no cure for Bolton and the disease he has spread....Somebody get me a kleenex.
I think Dekalb Officers should start a section on pension and benefits. I'm concerned about the lack of communication about the pension that not only the county but WE as employees contribute to for many years. I for one never hear anything at all about the status of our pension. I am not aware of any communication at all from our pension representative to employees or retirees. I think that the county should publish somewhat detailed pension information on a monthly basis on their web site or a news letter within a reasonable time after a pension meeting. I'd like to make sure that there are not any stupid investments being made, as in all of the sleaze you hear about in the news lately. I'm not making any accusations ,I just don't know anything about our pension. I just read that some pensions have exposure to the Bernie Madoff scandal. I just don't know anything at all about something I intend to rely on in the future. I work in a stressful job for low pay now, in exchange for my pension in the future and I'd like to make sure our pension is safe from crooks and politicians.
I'd also like to see if there is any interest in this area.
FINALLY confirmed that I and my wife do exist and received our Cigna cards and dental cards. Another story concerning Rx coverage- I exist but my wife doesn't and can't get any of her meds covered until the county updates her info.(wonder how long that'll take?) They didn't hesitate to deduct the premiums from my pension check. After all the harp we got about getting all the paperwork in on time and now look at the mess we're in, and only two people to handle the calls, IF you can get through. What in the heck is going on? If it wasn't broke, it shouldn't have been fixed !!! Good grief !
Maybe it's high time we get the news/media involved and see if it accomplishes anything.
The news media would already be involved if they wanted to be involved. They go with what sells beer and panty hose. We don't rate yet.
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