Highmark just laid off another 200 plus people today. Me included. People across all departments. People who were set to retire this year. They don't care. Good thing the CEO made 9 million last year tho.
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For those of you laid off, just so you know, the Attorney General in New York does have info regarding issues with Highmark and its violations both against its employees and on a business level. You just need to contact them to make this case happen. We know what Highmark has done, especially in New York. Many kept quiet to keep their jobs. Now is your time to speak up!
Today I received a few texts stating Highmark EnGen had laid off some wonderful employees. My advice is although missing the people is sad. In a day or two EnGen will because part of your history. I was actually glad when my number came up I know you will do well working for a company 30k years is a testament of who you are. Enjoy your retirement.
X-x
They just announced closure of Guilderland Medicare Center in NENY. I believe 2 jobs lost there. Not a good sign they are closing this right before the Annual Election Period.
Not a good sign for NY business at all.
I was laid off in 2023 at age 68. I was planning on working 2 more years. It is a heartless company that prefers offshore employees.
Hi about the comment "Does anybody know what the penalty is for a HIPAA violation specifically with sensitive coast exposed when it shouldn’t be due to the fact that there is no HIPAA waiver signed by an adult dependent and is it at instance level?" - Not sure I fully understand all the applicable circumstances for your specific case, but if this question is about use of offshore staffing and PHI - you may want to research a CMS Compliance Program requirement called First-Tier, Downstream, and Related entities ("FDRs"). PHI is part of that for particular claims, which maybe of interest to you if your example fits. Good Luck.
Does anybody know what the penalty is for a HIPAA violation specifically with sensitive coast exposed when it shouldn’t be due to the fact that there is no HIPAA waiver signed by an adult dependent and is it at instance level?
I didn’t hear of any last week- there’s been gossip about more end of July in these threads so curious if they will come to fruition bc they’ve been pretty spot on.
It's Thursday. Was anyone let go today?
Highmark is a disaster and we never should’ve joined with them. They rammed their fake core values down our throats and they treated us like trash. There’s no “Customer First” it’s dollars first and the dollars go to their executives while the worker do more work with less resources. They let go hard working people and send the jobs to India where the work is done wrong and fixed back in the U.S.. There is absolutely no loyalty and then they want you to fill out an “anonymous” survey to tell them how they’re doing but if you don’t fill out the survey you get an email telling saying you didn’t fill it out. Then they have these big company meetings and lie about the biggest concerns on the survey as if the employees are d-mb. We all knew what our biggest concern with that trash company was and it was never mentioned in the meeting. If anyone from Highmark reads this the workers do not trust you and with good reasons.
To the poster - who commentated on “Lizzy’s”post - you sir are incorrect! Maybe you should get your facts correct because, I as well was approved and have received my UI and lump sum severence!! But I did hear that Highmark had frozen all pension payouts! Til further notice! What kind of sh@t is that? They keep trying to sc--w every one!
To the poster named "Lizzy". I don't know what state you are in...but you absolutely cannot collect unemployment checks until the period of your severance runs out. Whether that is weekly OR a lump sum payment. It states that clearly when you are filing a claim in NYS. If you are in NYS and doing so....you're just getting lucky that someone hasn't caught it. But for others who are wondering, that is in-accurate information for those in New York.
How many today?
Prayers for everyone tomorrow, the buzz is a lot will be getting that mandatory organizational update meeting email.
Ex Colleague told me about this portal, I read through previous messages. People have mentioned of rumors of layoffs in may June this year and all of them are true so far. Now I am tensed as there are other rumors of layoffs in July and December.
To the person that said; you can’t collect UI due to Severance that only applies if they pay your severance weekly - doesn’t apply on a one time payout! So yes you can get UI - I’m on my 4th check! And to the one asking about can you get Medicare - yes, you can - we are - make sure you contact HR to complete that necessary paperwork timely after 6 times they finally got it right! Place is a joke! There is life after HIGHMARK! They still didn’t pay my dental bill from March! That’s how they have billions - they don’t pay the claims timely - they delay! We had to file a complaint against HIGHMARK! I have excellent insurance with a great company now and it ain’t HIGHMARK!!
"Does anyone know you had over 30 years and over 60 and was laid off. Will you still be eligible for Highmark Medicare retirement medical benefits?"
I would imagine that you'd be able to force-retire as an option to simply being let go. In that event, you'd be grandfathered-in to all your retirement entitlements.
Is that not the case?
Does anyone know you had over 30 years and over 60 and was laid off. Will you still be eligible for Highmark Medicare retirement medical benefits?
Finally got the severance pay out - over $9000.00 missing - so I’m assuming TAXES or they changed the original pay out! I’m just glad it’s over!!! Worse experience ever!!
If you were the recipient of a severance package, please be sure to read page 9 very carefully. Just in case this is not anonymous, that's all I can say.
You can expect them to be doing layoffs (3-4 times a year) every year now. They are converting many roles over to India where the labor is much cheaper and working to utilize AI in places they can. I would just expect that to be the case for a while. They are evaluating who they can cut....always. This is the reality of many large corporations right now, so no need to wonder!
Heard some chatter today about next round, anyone hearing anything? June end, July 1st -2nd week.
Re. The Cobra insurance. The company is actually covering the premium during the severance period, as it states in the letter. You just need to jump through hoops to get it processed.
Buffalo News seen via Google, dated yesterday, reads that Highmark is showing 42 million in loss for first quarter. Unable to read the entire article as you must be a subscriber to the news carrier. Without being able to read the entire article, it's pretty clear many more people will be shown the door. What a sad state of affairs!
TO THE PERSON THAT RESPONDED TO MY POST!!!!
CALM DOWN!!!!!!!! First off.
I WAS A BACK OFFICE WORKER. I HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY IMPACTED!!!!
OFFSHORE STAFF HAVE CAME IN & NOW HAVE MY JOB!!!
You’re acting as if I’m on the Highmark committee to getting rid of the “back office ppl that have little to no interaction with members”
We the BACK OFFICE keep this company rolling!!!
Relax!!!
That wasn’t what I was implying. What I was implying is they are doing away with back office staff FIRST at Highmark. And used IT as an example. I’ve never said back office staff doesn’t do sh*t & WE BACK OFFICE STAFF are worthless!
Regarding the comment that said: "Back office are the folks that have little to no dealings at all with the outsiders or members. The example today would be IT."
Who do you think: configures the applications that takes the membership in, configures the applications that accept, process and pay or deny claims, configures the allowances that the providers and the insurance company agree would be their allowances, configures the applications that create the EOB's for our members and finally configures the applications that create the vouchers for the providers to balance on their end.
Outsiders? Who do you think sets up the files to receive and send to the numerous numbers of vendors insurance companies use? Who do you think keeps all the databases up to date for all the files that go back and forth multiple times a day?
Who do you think creates, builds, tests all the 'do it yourself' websites that the members, potential members, providers, brokers, etc. use?
The answer is: 'the back office workers that have little to no dealings with the outsiders or members'.
And here we wait - laid off in April and still waiting for the “severance” payment and unemployment checks! No money coming in!! And got the COBRA offer to continue on with HIGHMARK insurance!! Total of $1902 a month for Dental, Vision and there sh*t insurance!! I declined!! Got a better offer at IHA and cheaper; than when I was an employee there!! I can tell you this much if you know anyone looking for a job @ HIGHMARK discourage them!! Most of the jobs are in India and some of the Nurses jobs are going overseas as well! So all your info is not in the USA anymore!!
So depending on how many days PTO you get it’s divided by 26 ( amount of checks for the year) then multiplied by the amount of checks you received for working. In my case that is 32/26=1.23 then because they’re paying me for the next 2 weeks that is the 11th check so 1.23*11=13.53 days I accrued. I did carryover 10 of which I used only 7 so I should be getting 16 days pto because they go by whole days accrued so the 13 accrued plus 3 remains from my carryover. If you used more days then you accrued then it will be taken out of the last paycheck you receive.
Does anyone know more about how PTOs are pro-rated? If someone takes more PTOs than what they should get, if they are pro-rating, Are they deducting the difference from severance pay?
IBC
Can the PTO person please clarify? 235 hours=29.375 days. If you got paid 30 days, you're slightly ahead. If it was truly 30 hours that's an entirely different and we thank you for letting us know.
I was told earlier that the people they let go today wouldn't know what their package included for 2 weeks so it sounds like some people already know (30 hours listed below) vs. not knowing for 2 weeks.
What big health plan is leaving?
Regarding the comment that said: "Back office are the folks that have little to no dealings at all with the outsiders or members. The example today would be IT."
Who do you think: configures the applications that takes the membership in, configures the applications that accept, process and pay or deny claims, configures the allowances that the providers and the insurance company agree would be their allowances, configures the applications that create the EOB's for our members and finally configures the applications that create the vouchers for the providers to balance on their end.
Outsiders? Who do you think sets up the files to receive and send to the numerous numbers of vendors insurance companies use? Who do you think keeps all the databases up to date for all the files that go back and forth multiple times a day?
Who do you think creates, builds, tests all the 'do it yourself' websites that the members, potential members, providers, brokers, etc. use?
The answer is: 'the back office workers that have little to no dealings with the outsiders or members'.
Just heard HIGHMARK just laid off 95 more folks today!!!! Use up your PTO because they pro-rate it and example…I had 235 hours and they paid me for 30 😡
Place is a joke - top heavy bosses making hundreds of thousands dollars and big bonuses and the little folks - get robbed!!
Back office are the folks that have little to no dealings at all with the outsiders or members. The example today would be IT.
Yeah I heard of the numerous layoffs but it seems from all I heard the majority are from the Buffalo office. Apparently this was the plan from the onset but had to wait until the 3 year period was up. Really stinks how the whole Highmark organization runs their business. Wonder how much the City of Buffalo and the Buffalo Bills want to be associated with this company and the way they treated the Buffalo employees
Many enGen teams impacted today. It's sad. Whoever was talking about June-July or specific 5/23 layoffs was right. Looks like more to come soon and will go well into 2025 as a big health plan is leaving. Stay strong.
92 people axed today. Mostly EnGen.
Thursdays are horrible days at Highmark.
What do you mean by “back office?”
Just know if you have been introduced to they’ve staff there is a very huge possibility they are working on your dept next. And to be honest within the next few years “back office” staff should be very concerned.
Apparently certain departments were told on the down low by management that it's definitely the latter part of June & will be alot of people. Primarily older folks nearing retirement and those that management deem as not meeting expectations.