AFSCME 3357-HOF'S BLOG

Purdue's Football Team gets National attention

This is a plug for my alma mater, Purdue. Here's a link to a New York Times article giving publicity to Brock Spack's Purdue defense. Purdue has been known for scoring lots of points, but giving up a few more on occasion. (Sound familiar Colts fans?) Coach Spack has made significant progress with the defense, and pre-season polls list Purdue at the top, or in the top 3, Teams in the Big 10.


A Veteran Purdue Defense Wears the Rugged Image of Its Coach - New York Times




Consumer Reports Pans Great West PPO

I've heard murmurs among comrades about problems with our Great West healthcare plan, or should I say "not-so-great" West. The coverage isn't the problem. We are lucky to have such an inclusive plan. (Well, there's the problem with domestic partners, but I'll let Paul C. address that.) The problem is with billing. Our experiences have been confirmed. In the most recent issue of Consumer Reports magazine, the Great West PPO is ranked next (tied) to last among all of those surveyed. The big problem is billing where Great West got a solid black circle. I'd link to the consumerreports.org website, but there's nothing on the website about the HMO&PPO article.

I personally have had billing problems. I also had a problem where Great West seemed to deliberately withhold payment without any identifiable reason. In May, I broke my finger during a fight with my garage door. (Don't ask.) I went to the emergency room with a flat finger. The emergency room records reflect that my finger got caught in a garage door. I got x-rays, a splint, etc.

Well over a month later, I'm contacted repeatedly by the providers that the bill hasn't been paid. I then get contacted by Great West, and they are looking for information regarding third parties to recover from regarding the car accident. I call them back - tell them there was no car accident, it was a garage door, and there were no third parties. Over a month later, I get what looks to be a letter from a collection agency. It's not a collection agency, it's a third party recovery company that again is contacting me asking me to identify the third parties in the accident, again with the implication that it is a car accident. (sigh!) If they contact me again, I'm going to go to the Great West office and show them my finger in person. It might not be the one that I injured, but I think I'll get my point across.