Trimet sticking it to us in retaliation for union problems

Your health coverage: It’s time to make choices
Health insurance premiums are going up for everybody, union and non-union
Every fall, each employee receives an open enrollment packet in their mailbox at home. Open enrollment is the only time you can make changes to your benefits without experiencing a “qualifying event” (such as the beginning or end of a marriage or the adoption or birth of a child). This open enrollment period runs November 7- 21. Changes will be effective January 1, 2013.

The biggest change this year is that all of us are paying more for our health benefits. As noted in a 10/1/12 Inside Info notice to all employees, premiums are rising, and TriMet is passing along the increases. No matter whether you’re union or non-union, on Regence or Kaiser, you will be paying part of your monthly premium. But TriMet will still be paying the vast majority of the cost for employee and retiree health insurance. (The numbers in the examples below are rounded to the closest dollar to make this notice easier to read. See your packet for the exact amounts.)
UNION EMPLOYEES: As state law and a related decision by the Employee Relations Board allow —and with the expiration of the contract as of 11/30/12—TriMet is passing along to union employees the difference between the 2012 and 2013 premiums. For example:
• Beginning September 2012, Regence charged TriMet $1,628 a month to cover a fulltime union employee and her/his spouse/domestic partner. The employee paid $0 of the premium.
 In 2013, Regence will charge TriMet $1810 for the same plan.
 The employee will pay the difference, which is $182/month.(time to find another option to blue cross)
 Beginning September 2012, Kaiser charged TriMet $597 a month to cover a fulltime union employee. The employee paid $0 of the premium.
 In 2013, Kaiser will charge TriMet $635 for the same plan.
 The employee will pay the difference, which is $38/month.
A chart of all the options is in the union employee Open Enrollment Guide and on TriNET.
NON-UNION EMPLOYEES: Today, fulltime non-union employees pay 6% of the premium if they choose Regence, and nothing toward the premium if they choose Kaiser. In 2013, they’ll pay 6% of the premium for either plan. (The percentages are different for part-time non-union employees.) For example:
 In 2012, Regence charged TriMet $1,058 to cover a fulltime non-union employee and her/his spouse/domestic partner. The employee paid 6% of this cost, which was $64.(why is the non union employee so much less?)
 In 2013, Regence will charge TriMet $1,243 for the same plan.
 The employee will pay 6% of the premium, which is $75/month.
 In 2012, Kaiser charged TriMet $399 to cover a fulltime non-union employee. The employee paid 0% of the premium.
 In 2013, Kaiser will charge TriMet $424 for the same plan.
 The employee will pay 6% of the premium, which is $25/month.
A chart of all the options is in the non-union Open Enrollment Guide and on TriNET.
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