Work...or used to...

Oh..bad timing as in the new owners are closing then reopening the plant. But employees must reapply for their jobs. They told the union reps in a meeting last week that older folks (over 60) and those with medical issues won't be coming back.  Even though they are closing in a week...they are still training new people from the local temp agency...replacements...newer...younger...not worn out by decades of working....

I could write a long grump list. Actually...I had one almost done and then the phone rang...with the news that my honey's back surgery had finally been approved by the insurance company.

Talk about getting thrown under a bus; several buses!  I probably should stick it in health care...but what the heck.  While I'm not fond of Obamacare...I sure don't care for today's setup either. Can you imagine if your auto insurance was tied to where you work. Or home insurance!  And you were in the middle of major repairs after a disaster and "poof"...no more job.

The insurance company (Anthem BC/BS) has really been playing games the last week. Our guess...trying to delay things till after the 15th.  Kept requesting the same information and records from the doctors office...then saying either it wasn't enough...or they'd never received them. (Sure glad the surgeon's office keeps meticulous records, confirmation numbers and names and such.)

Anyhow...we got a letter today denying the surgery...insufficient information to process the claim. My honey was on the phone to various folks all day. I'm not sure who yanked their chain...but all of a sudden it's approved and scheduled...for tomorrow afternoon. 

But...it sure makes ya fell very expendable and like a nobody....very quickly.

Got a little carried away. Regarding the closing...who knows.  It's a group of folks out of the plant office who are the new owners. Which is probably why they are closing, then reopening. Current employees can reapply for their jobs. 

But they had a meeting with the union rep last week. Hard to believe they would say this stuff straight out..but he says they did:

No rehiring anybody with medical problems.

No rehiring anybody over a certain age.

No rehiring above a certain percentage of current union members. (Something to do with a simple majority of union members would mean having to deal with the union again...and they won't.)

That's three strikes against my sweetie....after 22 years...and one of their best workers. (Not prejudiced....she's a hard fast worker. I wouldn't want her as my boss. LOL)

Time will tell. One day at a time as the song goes...

I'm sure sorry to hear of all that, I know what that kind of stress can do to you.

If it's any comfort I expect that the union guy was lying; even if they wanted to do all those things they'd never say so out loud as at least one of them is illegal. Plus it's the kind of stuff that unions accuse businesses of to gen up the membership.

Know what you mean about the premiums. That COBRA amount is about what we pay and that's with a $5k deductible...each.

Man, medical stuff is weird. When I had my injections the billed amount was $4,632 and the covered amount was $515 (which the insurance company didn't pay since I haven't hit my $5k). I paid $300 and change after I called them up and got a cash discount (which they didn't hesitate to give, didn't even have to argue about it or anything, just called and asked).

Humm, they billed the insurance company $4.6k yet were happy with $300? 

Something don't add up.

Sorry, didn't really intend to go off talking about me. I sure hope that it all works out. I'm with Bob and hope that we're right and you and your wife will be in my prayers.

Nope. Neither is medical...as it's considered personal and private.

But. And this is an awful big but...I can see both side and have no idea of a solution. As I've commented about this situation and where I used to work:  If a place isn't making a profit...they aren't going to stay in business very long. 

But it brings up an interesting point about retirement. Several politicians and bureaucrats have said that the retirement age needs to be raised in order to keep social security solvent. What's the point?  A regular worker can't hardly make it to age 65 or even 62.

Wow, I didn't realize it was happening so soon! Great to hear she's doing okay.

I can imagine but no problem, just glad that she tolerated it okay and hopefully with results.

Signs of relief...as soon as she woke up from surgery!

And what's strange (and with luck long term)...her blood-pressure has dropped like crazy.  She's had high blood pressure for years...and taking meds....but it's actually too low now. (Has to lay off the meds till they figure that one out.)

Otherwise...it's been a rather busy day. But..."Grandma" is now home and life is as it should be says our Dorkie puppy.  LOL

That's really great news. 

A little update. She's doing much better since her surgery...even got outside yesterday with her stroller to walk up and down the sidewalk. It was a beautiful cool fall day.

Her blood pressure is back up again.  Apparently we need to get some leeches to take care of that problem. (The BP drop, per her surgeons nurse was due to blood loss from surgery and the drainage tube.)  She didn't much care for my leech suggestion. (Well...she is worried about the cost the prescription with the loss of her job and prescription benefits.....)

As far as her factory...they didn't close the 15th after all. They had a meeting and were told they are staying open till the end of October or first part of November. Some of the employees got loud and abusive and management abruptly ended it.  So...that's all the new news we know.  (Except a few dozen employees have already not returned to work. And only 35 or so have submitted their paperwork to reapply for their jobs.)