In the Selkirk Diesel shop, we have a number of people, including yours truly who have had problems with the opt out with United Health Care.

I opted out a year ago, and sent in the paperwork again for that this year. In December I got a notice that I had not chosen to opt out and that I had to send in paperwork again, which I did. I then received the UHC cards that indicated I had opted in. I called UHC and was told they would take care of the problem. I then got the injury only UHC card.

When the time came for my $100 opt out payment, instead I was hit with the health insurance deduction of $149 for the machinists. I called UHC again and was told I hadn't signed something I needed to sign. Melissa at UHC emailed me the forms to sign and I sent them back via scanner and email the same day. I was told that she would expedite the change with CSX.

Yesterday I got my payroll notification for this week and no refund was included. So I am owed $250 as of today. I've been told by the clerks that at least 10 people in the shop have this problem. Including a timekeeper!

Today I found out that one of our machinists who wanted the insurance and thinks he is covered, got the opt out payment in his check last week!

I called our GC and got him working on the problem for us. Our shop manager takes the position that this is a UNION PROBLEM! Not so long ago we used to be able to fix payroll problems without involving a GC.

UHC told the timekeeper with the same problem that it was now Jacksonville's problem not theirs. Who knows how this will end.

But its another example of our broken private health care system.

Jon Flanders