The company has offered a new health care “Package”, to all of the hourlies. I attended a meeting yesterday to discuss the changes with the company representatives assigned to provide the information for the new “Package”. Prior to the meeting we were all sent what is called the SPD, or Summary Plan Description. The SPD is the legal document defining the coverages in the plan. One of the first questions in the meeting was why the SPD was not accurate in cost, and why a number of issues the company claims are being offered in the new plan are not reflected in the SPD. The company representatives claimed the SPD was not accurate, and that the information in the SPD did not necessarily represent the changes the company wanted to implement.
     Of course the company wants you to take their word on what the plan is all about, but when push comes to shove in a legal situation, the SPD is what the courts look at. The company, as usual, took the cheap easy way, and mailed everyone an old book for some other plan that was close to what the new plan looks like.
     They want you to just take their word for what the new plan is about.
                         Will their word stand up in court?
     
     I am making no representations as to whether any employee should make the change or not. My complaint is about the company wanting us to make decisions on what could be a lifelong change, without providing us with any accurate information.
     Contact Human Resources and tell them you want an accurate SPD to make the decisions that matter for your family.

     The “Summary Plan Description” is a legal document for your health insurance plan!
                  Their word is not!