Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

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"And for those of you saying how expensive COBRA is, please find me the cheaper equivalent coverage on Marketplace because I’m still looking… "

This is the truth. Oh you can find cheaper on the market place, but the coverage is squat and the deductibles sky high. Unfortunately COBRA only lasts 18 months, so you either suck it up with the market place or find a job with decent health care.

I was surplused 12/2022 and had 6 months CEC for my medical and that has now ended & I’m on COBRA. I can stay on COBRA for up to 12 months (18 months total but first 6 ran concurrent with CEC.) There was no ‘6 months at full cost’ for me and nothing I’ve seen on ATT Benefits mentions that as happening automatically. However, I’ve got my dental and vision on COBRA so maybe that’s why my medical automatically switched there too.
You can get estimate of current COBRA costs from ATT Benefits site and from what I remember last year I was also able to get estimate of ‘full cost’ too - and for me COBRA was cheaper but everyone’s situation is different.

And for those of you saying how expensive COBRA is, please find me the cheaper equivalent coverage on Marketplace because I’m still looking…

The guy from the post below here...

I just checked, it says:

"If you're laid off - Coverage for you and your dependents may last for up to 18 months" (It's in the "After Leaving the company guide")

So it sounds right. 6 months on CEC, 6 months on full cost, and 6 months on COBRA.

Scared me there, for a second:)

Um. Pretty sure. The screenshots of slides that I have shows individual, individual + spouse, and individual + family coverages and pricing. Also, there were people that were asking specifically about moving dependents from their plans to other relatives, and the hosts were telling them how. Now that you brought it up, I will definitely double-check, but at this time, I'm pretty sure it covers whoever is covered right now.

I know AT&T is evil, but IDK if I'm ready to believe they're so evil, that they will kick your spouse and children off your medical plan. That would defeat the purpose, IMO.

Hi I'm read below that the Cec coverage covers you and 2 family members. Are you sure about that? On a call I thought they said it only covers you. Even in the surplus documents it doesn't say anything about family.

Thanks

I was surplussed last Thursday. Next Thursday is the last day on payroll, so this week was full of meetings and QnA sessions about all this kind of stuff.

Thank u! Were u surplused already? in wave 1 or wave 2?

If you follow your job to Atlanta or Dallas is you current insurance going to be valid? Thought some were state specific. And moving to a new city is not a “life event” so you can’t make changes to insurance until October. Anyone know?

Ok, I'm the guy from the long reply below.

So yes, if you were employed for more than 5 years, you should still have subsidized Medical for the next 6 months. Then full price for another 6 months, and then COBRA after 12.

I just looked mine up.
Subsidized cost is $175/mo, for Medical, not too bad (me and 2 family members). I should have it for 6 months.
Full cost is around $1550/mo. This will be from month 7-12.
After 12 months they say COBRA is 102%, so virtually the same as what the full cost is, around $1580/mo. In any case, sc--w that. Gotta get a better job within 6 months, or look for a different plan.

Well, assuming you mean you're surplussed after refusing to relocate, yes? YES

i was assuming we would not get any company help the day after surplus and amy insurance would be thru cobra or open marketplace

if att subsidized payment continues that would be nice and unexpected as i saw things

1 cobra apply here if you do not relocate to a hub?

Well, assuming you mean you're surplussed after refusing to relocate, yes? If you tell them, and you don't, you will likely just get fired and none of this will be applicable. Also, while you're still on payroll, you'll keep paying whatever company subsidized cost is. with that said:

It almost feels like it's made as confusing as possible on purpose. The way I understand it, if laid off, here is how it will go if surplussed:

1. You will have the same medical, dental and vision coverage till the end of the month of your last day on payroll.

2. If you were employed for 5 years or more, you will get 6 months of the same medical plan at the same subsidized cost, so whatever you've been paying from your paychecks. 1-5 years, it's 3 months. Under 1 year, it's nothing. This is called CEC, or Company Extended Coverage, and it's only for Medical. Dental and Vision will be canceled at the end of the month of separation. For example, if you have your medical through BCBS of IL, you will continue with the same plan, same cards and all.

3. After 6 months, you will still keep the same plan (unless you cancel, which you can do at any time), but it won't be subsidized anymore, so whatever the full cost of it is at that provider, you will have to pay that. That will be for the next 6 months, it's automatic, if you want to keep it going, I'm sure you can contact them and get it set up. You'll need to provide your bank account to Benefits, BTW, for direct billing. For those between 1 and 5 years on payroll, it will be up to 9 months of 100% cost of the same medical coverage after their first 3 subsidized months. Less than 1 year, once again get nada.

4. And only after 12 months, you'll need to start to worry about COBRA. Now, let's address the claim that COBRA is very expensive. Yes, it appears so, but in the FAQ it says COBRA is 102% of the cost of coverage. I might be wrong here, but to me, it sounds like it's not that COBRA is that expensive, it is the non-subsidized coverage that is really expensive, so an example they give is $1575 for Individual+Family, most basic plan... while subsidized cost to me right now for this level of coverage is only about $100/mo. This should probably be expected after the first 6 months, COBRA or not. So, let's hope we can all find better jobs in 6 months, actually.

This is my understanding, and I'm still figuring it all out myself. The next stop is the Benefits site, and if I can't get it clarified there, I'll have to call them.

I can’t even imagine Cobra. This high deductible plan is crushing me off my child’s knee surgery alone let alone my other sons tonsil surgery. AT&T pays well, but they make it up in savings on insurance with high deductible offers.

Crobra Around $1200 a month, quite a bargain