In his latest video, PMG Pat Donahoe addresses the latest news on legislation and proposals for USPS to sponsor its own health care plan.
The PMG notes that the Senate recently introduced a postal reform bill. He explains the process the bill would need to through to become law. This includes the bill making it out of a committee, coming to a vote on the Senate floor and receiving changes that would allow it to be passed by both the House and Senate before eventually making its way to the president to be signed.
“There’s still a long way to go,” says the PMG. “We’re encouraged that both the House and Senate are moving on bills that address infrastructure, 6- to 5-day mail delivery and health care.”
Donahoe then explains the necessity of USPS health care changes. He notes that currently health care accounts for 20 percent of the Postal Service’s operating costs.
With the buying power of 1 million retirees, USPS could sponsor its own plan, which the PMG estimates could save $8 billion annually.
“We can provide excellent care for current employees and our retirees for a lot less money,” says Donahoe.
via USPS News Link
The PMG closes the video by thanking employees for their help in launching the recent Priority Mail product and service enhancements and for their contributions every day.
http://youtu.be/UG2jP-bAtXs
john long island and bkizzle we need more people like in the P.O.
I dont know about Donahoe!? But I know we got the Worst President ever in America. Unions needs to go and so with the lazy. Donahoe is making more sense an the President!!!
He wore a yellow tie in the video…to cover up his lying yellow belly…All the years of paying for good health insurance, may be down the tubes in our retirement years. 30 years with an HMO…will it be there for my retirement?
John Long Island, we, the craft have already sacrificed. More than enough.
EAS hasn’t sacrificed squat. In fact, they’ve flourished.
It’s their turn, not ours.
John Long Island-All of the union presidents have been silent on Downahole’s plan except Goofy Guffey who said to Issa’s committee that he was willing to negotiate with the Postal Service…translation:if the APWU’s plan was included,he would be all for Downaholecare.
Even Darrell Issa was skeptical of Dumbahoe’s pie in the sky plan when he pitched it to Congress and didn’t put it into his Postal Service Poison Pill bill his committee recently passed. Issa said it should be studied further and part of the debate on future FEHB legislation. The Congressional Budget analists did determined there would be little or no cost savings(only the USPS bottom line)in Dumbahoe’s plan.
I read the White Paper USPS submitted to Congress a while back, on this independent USPS Health Plan. You know it was written by attorneys or at a minimum, edited by them. One of the key phrases (weasel words) was something along the lines of “we will offer benefits comparable to those offered by major employers in the private sector, consistent with best practices…” What major employer? Wal-Mart? Translation: We could wind up offering employees a “bare bones” health plan because that’s what other major employers get away with in the private sector, in order to “contain costs”. Donahoe is pushing this change for 2 primary reasons:
1) USPS would immediately be relieved of having to pay the $ 5.5 annual payments to the Treasury for pre-funding the retirees health care fund (the insane, PAEA requirement passed by Congress in 2006 to bleed money out of USPS and into the Govt general budget to cover other deficit spending). That’s the majority of his alleged, 8 billion “savings” a year. Interestingly, during Congressional testimony on USPS’s White Paper, and expert on health programs flat out said he thought the USPS claims on cost savings and that they could adminster a plan better than the current FEHBP was all smoke and mirrors. Also, USPS pulling out of FEHB would undermine that plan, that is, reducing the risk pool and spreading costs.
2) Donahoe’s plan would force retirees over 65 to join Medicare. That way, Medicare become the first or primary payer (80%) and their plan would only have to pay 20%
That would mean every retiree would have to pay not only for a health plan but also monthly Medicare insurance premiums. It’s all a big cost shift. Others adverse impacts: more and more MDs are refusing to take Medicare patients because the reimbursement rates are so low and all the paperwork. MA is the only state I am aware of by state law that requires MDs to accept Medicare patients or else they will pull their ticket (license). The other concern, as somone noted above, is possibly only offering HMO plans to the retirees – no doctor choice.
So, boys and girls, as the old saying goes, believe none of what you hear and half of what you read. Remember what Will Rogers said: some people try to rob you with a gun, others with a pen.
Donahoe = Worst PMG we have ever had.
NALC-Rolando= gutless ignoramus
I just want weekends!!!! The rest is nonsense!!!
Middle class joe. Obama has attacked the middle class for 5 years now. He says he is for us and then he does nothing to help us. We lost income since he has been here, we lost wealth since he has been in charge..Open your eyes its OBAMA and his terrible policies….Stop blaming others for what he has done to us the middle class. Rich are doing just fine under Obama, Poor doing well getting everything for free and us the middle class getting screwed year after year.
You people are amazing…Things have to change We can’t keep going this course. Stop listening to the union Bull and OPEN YOUR EYES..Look at what the union has done for you, we are going to go to 5 day we pay more than ever for health care and hiring non career workers. 23.44 a pay check for that…Please watch the video and listen before you comment…No body knows what the health care plan would be but it’s terrible. I think you guys just don’t like the PMG and anything he says is bad…I care about our jobs and if things have to be cut to save them so be it. In the real world they lay people off so this is much better. OPEN YOUR EYES and stop listening to the union and watching MSNBC…
There should be a big bonus for himself if charter the health care system.
Not only will the ‘plan’ screw PO employees and retirees but ALL federal employees.
Pat The Ho’,
You’re an asshole!
So your royal majesty King DONAHOE says that his BERNARD MADOFF health plan is better than we have now. IF that is true than why is he and his jesters exempt? The crap plan was dreamed up by the BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP The crap plan was dreamed up only to cut benefits, not provide quality health care! This Postal deform bill is only going to destroy the Postal Service. The Postal Service wants to run its own health care? The Postal Service can’t even run a toilet! How about ending his royal majesty’s limousine and executive only gym? His royal majesty can shove his health plan up his ear!
We pay people[Congress] to make good decisions and still nothing after 5 years,. No wonder the Post Office is in the Red as well as the United States of America. America should get a refund after getting no results in the past. Free Health Care,retirement at 65 with only 6years of service [ $36,000 ] while the workers have increases in Health Care and have to work 30 plus years.The taxpayers know whoses not earning their pay.
give me my money, I will LEAVE, 35 years is enough..
Tell my something Patsy boy, if your health care plan is so great, why aren’t you and your other worthless mgrs. going to sign up for it ?
Another week, another useless, full of lies, Donuthole video.
Joseph Goebbels had nothing on this clown.
Who in their right mind would believe PMG “Downahole’s” claim to give us better health care coverage at lower cost? Yeah, right. What he doesn’t tell you is: 1. The PMG and senior executives are EXEMPT from the new health plan and get to keep FEHB at their discretion. 2. The proposed health plan intends to use Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) as the health care providers. No thanks – if and when I need medical care I would like to retain my CHOICE to select the best doctor/medical care facility, not be steered into a bean counter’s profit dream. 3. At 65, you get steered into Medicare which is subject to federal funding and potential cutbacks – no thanks, I see their plans for Social Security. 4. Did you know that despite craft employees being bludgeoned during negotiations and managers’ pay frozen without COLA (or TCOLA like other feds) for 3 years, the PMG and his senior executive cronies at L’Enfant Plaza get HUGE annual deferred compensation packages that nearly double their pay? Waah waah waah…don’t bullsh_t us. This is not about saving the Postal Service – it is an attack on middle class postal wages and benefits. Lead by example PMG – you are a bloody fraud!
His plan is to create a shoddy health plan for “the help” but the executives in DC will stay in the FEHBP. I’d say the majority of us are happy with the FEHBP. You listening Rolando? NO CHANGES!