Someone on the last thread asked about pharmacy costs. For me, the early results are in, and the news ain't good. We have the Gannett policy, same one we've had for years. Nothing changed on the new insurance card. Same policy, same ID, same company.
Prior to 2014, I got three meds.
#1: $40 for one month #2: $40 for three months #3: $200 for three months
Those prices had been stable for years. But today . . .
#1: $45 #2: $105 #3: $997
Thanks goodness I could keep the policy I had. Otherwise, we'd be screwed.
Beware of Gannett charging the new high rate for medical insurance on last Fridays pay checks, they jumped the gun by 17 days before the new plan even kicked in for Jan 1 2014. They over charged my check by $113.00 for the family plan. Even the next pay check should be pro-rated for 3 days because it is also in 2013.
24 hours before the BCS Championship game, and the Tallahassee Democrat has a sign in front of their building that says simply "GO NOLES!" I'm sure it has something to do with this cheerleading effort on their part: http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20140102/NEWS01/140102005/Show-your-spirit-go-garnet-gold-Friday Back in the day, such "Homer" type boosterism would have been frowned on as unethical an a sign that the organization could be rightly accused of being biased.
It's not like the sign says "Go Obama." It's sports. Do you think readers are going to say that and think: Gee, The Democrat wants FSU to win, I guess we can't trust their coverage. I better go read the newspaper in Auburn instead."
Clear something up for me, please, any current Gannett employees who are on their healthcare plan.
Do all Gannett employees in every state have the exact same healthcare plan choices (United Healthcare and Caremark - let's leave out eye and dental.just for now), deductibles, and prescription prices?
We have the family plan and it's costing between $500 and $600 a month now (we'll have exact figures after the first few checks) and the family deductible is $3000. Prescription costs are INSANE before the deductible is met, especially when there is no generic and your life depends on it.
Thanks. I have a friend who was insisting there's no way a company could force people in other states to pay these rates (we are in a Republican state). I swear people like her make me feel like I must be losing my marbles and that I'm imagining all this. We KNEW we read it in the FAQ that there's one PRICEY plan company-wide!
Of course it has. Gannett USATODAY can't begin to drum up a strategy to compete. It's same ol same ol business as usual.
"Many industry experts agree that Craigslist led to the decline of the local classified advertising that was the cornerstone of newspapers revenue stream. Google has a pronounced effect on the consistent decline of advertising Simply put, Google has not done enough to aid the newspaper industry. If the company continues their profiteering ways at the expense of original content creators, more papers will fold and less content will be created."
This is the risk papers run with citizen columnists. This writer kvetches about people piissing on toilet seats. http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20140103/APC06/301030118/Public-restrooms-can-pose-dilemma-column-
Oh my fucking god, I can't believe the depth to which the Wisconsin newspapers have sunk. Just don't get me going on Oshkosh, which at least once a week runs the same story twice.
Oh god, and that used to be a decent paper. Isn't there anyone left there who is smart enough to tell an unpaid community columnist or whatever this guy is that the column is worthless. Geez, fill the space with a cartoon if you are that hard up. (I asume this is on their op-ed page)
(You assume correctly. When I read it, I'm kept trying to believe that it was supposed to be written in a Seinfeld-monologue type way.)
Not the first this has happened but the "A" section had only one Post-Crescent staff generated story unless you include the self-promotion blurbs they put on A-3 or the 8-graf mini column of a story that aired on the radio days before.
The remained of A section was filled with AP, stories from the Wisconsin State Journal or other NE Wis Gannett newspapers.
Not the first time the "more local news" Butterfly Project paper has had that for content.
Except it won't count towards your deductible if you use anyplace other than CVS/Caremark. Oh and insulin prices are horrendous everywhere (albeit better at Walmart, first alternate place we checked)... we thought a $160 copay was bad before!
The healthcare plan cost, deductible and prescription costs for 2014 equals a pay cut for everyone but the top earners in Gannett. The new year is not looking better for the vast majority of Ganett workers.
Just checked and you can go to any pharmacy you like. Cvs Caremark merely administers program, but you can use Costco, Walgreens, True Value or Rite Aid if you like. Shopping around is good.
Speaking of toilets, the coverage USA Today has on many national stories is down right flush able. All the Rahman and bravado from Kramer & Company aside, the operation has never been in such poor shape and staffed with so many people way in over their heads. There is only one direction it is heading.
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Someone on the last thread asked about pharmacy costs. For me, the early results are in, and the news ain't good. We have the Gannett policy, same one we've had for years. Nothing changed on the new insurance card. Same policy, same ID, same company.
ReplyDeletePrior to 2014, I got three meds.
#1: $40 for one month
#2: $40 for three months
#3: $200 for three months
Those prices had been stable for years. But today . . .
#1: $45
#2: $105
#3: $997
Thanks goodness I could keep the policy I had. Otherwise, we'd be screwed.
Our paper did NOT let us keep same POLICY. We are so screwed. An $80.00 three month script is now $350. - AFTER we pay our $3000 deductable.
DeleteSounds like you won't have the time or energy to keep posting here, 3:37. Your contributions will be missed.
DeleteBeware of Gannett charging the new high rate for medical insurance on last Fridays pay checks, they jumped the gun by 17 days before the new plan even kicked in for Jan 1 2014. They over charged my check by $113.00 for the family plan. Even the next pay check should be pro-rated for 3 days because it is also in 2013.
ReplyDelete24 hours before the BCS Championship game, and the Tallahassee Democrat has a sign in front of their building that says simply "GO NOLES!" I'm sure it has something to do with this cheerleading effort on their part:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tallahassee.com/article/20140102/NEWS01/140102005/Show-your-spirit-go-garnet-gold-Friday
Back in the day, such "Homer" type boosterism would have been frowned on as unethical an a sign that the organization could be rightly accused of being biased.
My how things have changed.
It's not like the sign says "Go Obama." It's sports. Do you think readers are going to say that and think: Gee, The Democrat wants FSU to win, I guess we can't trust their coverage. I better go read the newspaper in Auburn instead."
DeleteYou are correct, time like everything changes. Keep up or you aree going to be left behind in the 90s.
DeleteI think you have it the wrong way around. In the "old days" papers WERE civic boosters. Nothing wrong with a sign.
ReplyDeleteBy that logic, papers should not endorse candidates. Papers should not have columnists, who pick and choose facts and opinions to make their case.
Go Noles!
Clear something up for me, please, any current Gannett employees who are on their healthcare plan.
ReplyDeleteDo all Gannett employees in every state have the exact same healthcare plan choices (United Healthcare and Caremark - let's leave out eye and dental.just for now), deductibles, and prescription prices?
We have the family plan and it's costing between $500 and $600 a month now (we'll have exact figures after the first few checks) and the family deductible is $3000. Prescription costs are INSANE before the deductible is met, especially when there is no generic and your life depends on it.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteStarting Jan. 1, the company started offering just one plan: United Healthcare.
DeleteSounds like you don't have the time or energy to post here. Your contributions will be missed.
DeleteNo Choice - Had to keep United. However we were NOT informed of the OUTRAGEOUS INCREASES.
DeleteThanks. I have a friend who was insisting there's no way a company could force people in other states to pay these rates (we are in a Republican state). I swear people like her make me feel like I must be losing my marbles and that I'm imagining all this. We KNEW we read it in the FAQ that there's one PRICEY plan company-wide!
Delete"Has Google Demolished the Newspaper Industry?"
ReplyDeleteOf course it has. Gannett USATODAY can't begin to drum up a strategy to compete. It's same ol same ol business as usual.
"Many industry experts agree that Craigslist led to the decline of the local classified advertising that was the cornerstone of newspapers revenue stream. Google has a pronounced effect on the consistent decline of advertising Simply put, Google has not done enough to aid the newspaper industry. If the company continues their profiteering ways at the expense of original content creators, more papers will fold and less content will be created."
http://goodereader.com/blog/digital-publishing/has-google-demolished-the-newspaper-industry
This is the risk papers run with citizen columnists. This writer kvetches about people piissing on toilet seats.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.postcrescent.com/article/20140103/APC06/301030118/Public-restrooms-can-pose-dilemma-column-
Oh my fucking god, I can't believe the depth to which the Wisconsin newspapers have sunk. Just don't get me going on Oshkosh, which at least once a week runs the same story twice.
DeleteIt's all within reach!
Oh god, and that used to be a decent paper. Isn't there anyone left there who is smart enough to tell an unpaid community columnist or whatever this guy is that the column is worthless. Geez, fill the space with a cartoon if you are that hard up. (I asume this is on their op-ed page)
Delete(You assume correctly. When I read it, I'm kept trying to believe that it was supposed to be written in a Seinfeld-monologue type way.)
DeleteNot the first this has happened but the "A" section had only one Post-Crescent staff generated story unless you include the self-promotion blurbs they put on A-3 or the 8-graf mini column of a story that aired on the radio days before.
The remained of A section was filled with AP, stories from the Wisconsin State Journal or other NE Wis Gannett newspapers.
Not the first time the "more local news" Butterfly Project paper has had that for content.
6:25 Prescription drugs are much less expensive at Costco
ReplyDeleteAre you talking about the parking lot?
Deleteno, the pharmacy
DeleteExcept it won't count towards your deductible if you use anyplace other than CVS/Caremark. Oh and insulin prices are horrendous everywhere (albeit better at Walmart, first alternate place we checked)... we thought a $160 copay was bad before!
DeleteThe healthcare plan cost, deductible and prescription costs for 2014 equals a pay cut for everyone but the top earners in Gannett. The new year is not looking better for the vast majority of Ganett workers.
DeleteJust checked and you can go to any pharmacy you like. Cvs Caremark merely administers program, but you can use Costco, Walgreens, True Value or Rite Aid if you like. Shopping around is good.
DeletePrescription costs are now going toward the deductible?
ReplyDeleteYes prescription costs count toward deductable.
DeleteSpeaking of toilets, the coverage USA Today has on many national stories is down right flush able. All the Rahman and bravado from Kramer & Company aside, the operation has never been in such poor shape and staffed with so many people way in over their heads. There is only one direction it is heading.
ReplyDelete