Thread regarding Sears layoffs

Sears insurance will cost me around 300 every two weeks for 2018. High deductible too, 6500 if I’m remembering right. I got a quote from the marketplace and it’s WAY LESS. $294/month with a $2000 deductible.

Sears isn't in position to negotiate anything.

Sears could provide better insurance. Companies negotiate with the insurance companies. Sears is not aggressively negotiating with the insurance companies. I used to negotiate for my former employer. With Sears size it should be able to negotiate better rates and choices.

If you don't think your employer is contributing, go out and price it on the open exchanges. BTW, be sitting when you see the pricing.

Neither Sears, or America, has health care. Sears, and America, has SICK care -- which is inadequate unless you compare it to those living in Sudan, Haiti or N. Korea.

@1rpd. Why would you think Sears isn't contributing to our health plans. Of course they are. Why would you waste time on this site if you aren't an associate? What would be the point? If you were an associate you would know clearly what they are contributing versus what you pay as it is clearly laid out on the site? I just don't understand why anyone who isn't an associate would waste his time on an associate and past associate website.

I cannot believe you guys are defending Sears for not contributing to YOUR healthcare plans.

Yes, it is Sears fault your health insurance is high because they have CHOSEN not to contribute to your plans. And the biggest insult is you are getting crappy insurance.

Quit defending a company that isn’t contributing to your healthcare plan. STOP.

Good grief. I guess once you are laid off and forced to get another job and see that other companies actually do have decent healthcare plans you will realize that it isn’t just the health care system.

Yes, people’s premiums went up over the affordable care act. But Sears insurance is not good insurance.

70/30 with a 800 personal deductible paying over 440 a month personally, just for me is terrible. That isn’t because of obama care. That is the company. Quit being brainwashed people.

@ffm- “we?!” Please, speak for yourself.

Why would an insurance company be in the business of providing insurance if they aren't going to make a profit? Sears is a rare exception to the rule that the purpose of being in a business is to make money.

And lest you think having companies who want to make a profit be in charge, it could be worse...the federal government could be in charge of healthcare. You know, the ones who waste trillions on literally nothing.

Sears doesnt control the insurance rates all they can do is pay into it and you pay the difference. The thing is insurance goes up and Sears wants to pay less so you pay the rest. Not putting Sears fully at fault on this one they just want to pay less since most likely the rate went up with insurances and Sears is just running out of $$$.

@slw The ACA technically isnt the cause of skyrocket prices theirs more into it. Even before the ACA you would see dramatic increases. The health care system is a mess its so expensive and they charge an arm and a leg. When I was in my parents health care plan I only think we used it once for a seriuos matter after having it for a decade and all it did was keep going up and up price just got to expensive to even be able to afford (and as I mentioned this was before the ACA so lets not put the blame to it).

@phk. No need to feel sorry or sad. We really do not all feel mistreated at all. I have had a really good career at Sears and hsve absolutely no animosity toward anyone no matter what the futute holds.

Insurance companies will always make profits. Their profits have increased year over year for decades. They pay good dividends and the stocks go up. They have products that society is required to buy and they rake us over the coals. you can't drive a car, own a home, or live without insurance. Owning a car or home can be considered a luxury, but I wish insurance companies were not allowed to profit from our health or sickness. Insurance was initially designed to be paid in by many so the few that need it could get the funding when they need it. Insurance has become a system that thrives on declining the services you need in order to drive profits for the shareholders. They are skimming money from us to make record profits on our healthcare when the money should be spent on our healthcare. I would suggest to everyone to check the open market just to be sure you are not paying more than you should for insurance. Some employees catch a break when their spouses work for employers that offers better deals than others.

Believe me, I am not a fan of Sears Holdings but this is a problem that SHLD has no control over.

The blame for this one lies squarely with Washington DC and the "Affordable" Care Act, which is anything but.

Rising health insurance costs are a problem at all companies.

It's so sad seeing internal sears associates defend the b.s. Corp sears is up to. So sad and pathetic from the outside looking in.

I know as a single person if I had to buy health insurance(self employed) it would be $800-$1000 per month just for me. So to get it for around $300 per month in my eyes is not the end of the world. Or I can pay $100 per month and have a deductible of around $4000 which isn't awful either as long as I open up a HSA to save the money. If you open up the HSA you can take it with you no matter where you go and roll it over from year to year. I don't know about the family rates, but if you are saying it cost $1000 for a family then I am guessing if you were self employed it would be around $3000 for a family.

Maybe single payer system like Canada would be best! Sears Canada employees get laid off and don’t have to worry about health care.

I would think Amazon has more full time associates than we have. Hey I was just thrilled that the company is still contributing to our health insurance. I thought with cutbacks they might not contribute much at all.

Amazon insurance is 25 bucks a month 1000 deductible

At the rate Sears pays it employees , they should be able to help their full time -long term employees that deserve this, if not no problem.... then they better take that money they are saving by not giving insurance and put it back in our paychecks as a RAISE I haven't seen a raise in 10+ years once they froze the pay scale not my fault (oh wait it is I stayed to long) not back in the pockets of Eddie

Why should employers have to offer medical insurance at all? People don't expect them to offer homeowner, renter, auto or personal liability insurance. Insurance should be a commodity based on the free market system, not something subsidized by employers or the government.

Your lucky I know a family of 5 that’s closer to 2k per month...it’s not a sears thing it’s a health care thing