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MD Anderson Lays Off 1000

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Posted 1/13/2017 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
Learned that MD Anderson laid off 1000 individuals. Lets remember these people in their time of uncertainty and unemployment. I think most were accounting and financial types. They still have helped many people just like us who face the fight of dealing with cancer. Not trying to start a political discussion, just thought it might be a time for us to be aware that those who have helped us have problems that impact their lives as well. Good thoughts and prayers for each of them.
Posted 1/13/2017 12:49 PM (GMT 0)
They staffed up for EHS transformation, now they are taking it back down in anticipation of the efficiency and productivity gains that have been realized in similar environments. Employment peaked recently at 20,000 including temporary positions for the bubble of work.
Posted 1/13/2017 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
Oh my, I hope this doesn't drag down the morale there. On a whole, just about everybody I've come in contact with has been pleasant and cheery. For the 1K without jobs, there should be plenty of opportunities - the area around the MDA campus is all health-care related.
Posted 1/13/2017 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hopefully a lot of the downsizing will come from natural attrition.

Bobby Mac
Posted 1/13/2017 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
One report I read said that 200 were to be attrition, closing unfilled positions, and retirement. Also no doctors or clinical nurses are affected. On the surface it seems like "normal course of business." They expanded, changed some things that affected their profit. Sad that they have to layoff but hopefully this is just a course correction for them.

Andrew
Posted 1/13/2017 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately, large layoffs are a fact of life.

We have some major companies in my city. Over the years, they have had some massive layoffs. They have also built new facilities and added jobs at times. As an educator, we have often looked closely at such data, as it impacted us. When workers are let go, they often move away. That means fewer students and less hiring or even layoffs elsewhere, such as schools, businesses, etc. Not a good situation.

Unfortunately, many of these workers also lose their benefits. Suddenly, good hard working people bereft of benefits such as health insurance. Fortunately, at this moment they do have options to obtain health insurance. That may change soon and that is very worrisome.

I'll stop here. Expressing my opinions further will result in a political rant!

Mel
Posted 1/13/2017 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Mel, to clarify the health insurance situation. No one will lose their coverage. COBRA and HPPA, two laws that have been in existence for nearly 20 years have always protected people when changing jobs and plans. Nothing in the ACA improved this and nothing in the Repeal and Replace looks to diminish it.

Basically, the employees stay on the MD Anderson plan for up to 18 months under COBRA. They pay the cost, which is generally better than an individual plan due to the group discounts. Then so long as they get new insurance within 60 days of the old expiring they are not subject to any loss of benefit due to pre-existing conditions under HPPA. This was the case long before ACA. The only people who had trouble getting coverage before the ACA were the people that went without insurance longer than the 60 days. Then they were subject to pre-existing conditions limitations unless they joined a group plan, as generally they do not have pre-existing conditions limitation.

Please let's not judge what we don't yet know. There is absolutely nothing in the various alternative plans that have been publicly published for several years that would throw people out of coverage and deny them entry. There is a lot of political fear-mongering going on and I encourage everyone to read independently of the politicians and media on this to get better informed. After all, we all need to voice our concerns and suggestions to our representatives in a well informed manner.
Posted 1/13/2017 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
JNF -

Unfortunately not all laid off workers can afford those COBRA payments.

What ever happens, repeal or changes to HCA, I hope they keep the preexisting condition law.

Bobby Mac
Posted 1/13/2017 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
I was employed at Charity Hospital in the radiology department until Hurricane Katrina. After Katrina ravaged New Orleans and the hospital, many thousands were laid off.
Posted 1/14/2017 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
As Mel stated, layoffs are. Fact of life n din many cases, it's simply a result of technology increasing worker productivity. I don't know specifically about the MDA situation , but I'd bet that's the case here. It's not because of a lack of new business that's for sure. We all know healthcare is a growth industry. :-(
Posted 1/15/2017 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Ed I am not being funny. There have been several papers and plans on several of the representatives websites that illustrate what a replacement plan would look like. The problem is that most people limit their search to what the media or certain politicians tell them. Go to Tom Price or Paul Ryan's website and you will see more specifics.

It is clear that the ACA is dead as it was clearly dying. Had Hillary won it would be replaced. Hopefully a method can proceed that will improve the current situation.
Posted 1/15/2017 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
JNF -- you mean the ACA needed work? we all knew that. if you think the the people are going to get a better plan at a better price you are delusional and bigly. this is going to yuge problem for your man and I already know who'll get screwed, again cool

ed
Posted 1/15/2017 6:50 AM (GMT 0)
Well Octoboro,
So much for sending out good vibes to real people who are going to struggle. This thread shoulda been locked long time ago.
Posted 1/15/2017 10:07 AM (GMT 0)
Back to my original point about the protections and insurance available to these employees. Another option is to buy an individual plan and some may be able to buy an exchange plan with a current premium subsidy. This may be a reduced current cost of coverage but would certainly come with a much larger deductible. So even a subsidized individual plan could be more costly than COBRA to the insured.

The subsidy is not assured as many of these people may have spouses whose income disqualifies the subsidy. Further the unemployment payments and hopefully re-employment could disqualify a subsidy. If this isn't managed well the employ could face paying back the subsidy is a subsequent year.

All of this is individual and can be complex. But to my original point it is great that these people have many protections in place that will enable them to continue insurance coverage without disruption and without restrictions based on their health status.
Posted 1/15/2017 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
"Allof this is individual and can be complex. But to my original point it is great that these people have many protections in place that will enable them to continue insurance coverage without disruption and without restrictions based on their health status."

Now they do via the ACA.
COBRA is very expensive, especially when someone
gets laid off,

You really think we will get something better.?

What an imagination!

Mel
Posted 1/15/2017 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
I hope we can get something better. Thank you for the compliment. Without an imagination we get nowhere. As a mathematician you know that better than most.

I had the same protections under HPPA and COBRA in 1999 when I lost a job due to a corporate restructure. This was long before the ACA. Most of these people will not rely on the ACA for their coverage continuation. Please don't give the ACA undue credit.
Posted 1/15/2017 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
Jnf

We shall see. 11 million more people insured.
Or so I've read.

I give credit to the ACA

But I've wandered a bit much into politics.

Sorry, I am a political junkie.

HW should have a support group for that!

Mel
Posted 1/16/2017 12:35 AM (GMT 0)

JNF said...
There have been several papers and plans on several of the representatives websites that illustrate what a replacement plan would look like. The problem is that most people limit their search to what the media or certain politicians tell them. Go to Tom Price or Paul Ryan's website and you will see more specifics.

The RAND Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, estimates millions will lose coverage under either replacement plan.
Although preexisting condition coverage remains insurance companies can charge higher premiums if not continuous coverage.
The deficit will grow because of repeal of the tax on medical equipment and extra tax on high income earners unearned income.

The bottom line is it's all about saving wealthy taxpayers and businesses money and sticking it to the average Joe!

Bobby Mac
Posted 1/16/2017 5:54 AM (GMT 0)
I am about to retire, and will take the company COBRA offer at about $600 per month, rather than the market costs of $1200+.
So I consider COBRA the best deal for me. I get to decide where I spend my HSA.

And here we can stop, as there are too many political comments.
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