#healthinsurance

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Weight-loss medication coverage is changing
We want to let you know about a change to your prescription dr-g benefits. Effective October 1, 2026, medications prescribed for weight loss will no longer be covered under the Pepsico Employee Health Care Program or the PepsiCo Retiree Health Care Program (together, the"PepsiCo Plans").
Why we're making this change
Prescription weight-loss medications have become one of the fastest-growing costs in the PepsiCo Plans. Removing coverage for prescription weight-loss dr-gs enables us to maintain a healthcare program that is sustainable and affordable for all PepsiCo employees, while continuing to provide a comprehensive, high-value benefits package. At the same time, many commonly used weight-loss medications now have cash-pay affordability pathways that were not available previously to individual patients.

Has anyone here who recently retired or forced into retirement from Verizon signed up for the Retiree COBRA Plan?

My severance package includes my current health coverage, but that coverage ends in September, so I’m trying to decide whether enrolling in the Retiree COBRA Plan is worth the cost.

I know I can call Verizon Benefits and get answers to my specific questions, but I’d really like to hear from real-world Verizon retirees who have actually gone through the process and can share their experience.

For those who enrolled:

What are you paying per month?
Which plan did you choose?
How has the coverage been compared with what you had while working?
Have you run into any unexpected costs, limitations, or issues?
Overall, do you feel the Retiree COBRA Plan is worth the cost?

I’d especially love to hear from Verizon retirees in Florida, but I’m interested in anyone’s experience. I’m trying to make an informed decision before my current coverage ends. Thanks!

Leadership repeats these concepts on every call, and have for years. In 20 years of having health insurance as an employee here, my costs have gone down ZERO times.

Year over year, it only gets more complicated.

Talk is cheap. Like propaganda, no matter how many times they repeat it - doesn’t make it true.

Reduce my costs, pay my claims - start with those two - get the basics down first.

AEP (Annual Enrollment Program) is only approximately 5 weeks away.

So, to all my social media persons, start now convincing folks that Traditional Medicare is a much better option, especially if they have some catastrophic event and don’t want to have their expensively health claims denied.

This AEP, let’s destroy this corrupt corporation’s membership growth.

This job isn't perfect. But millions are worse off, with no job, no health insurance, and no way to feed their kids. Be grateful for what you have.

A strong early retirement offer from Verizon can be the foundation for a secure future—almost like building your own retirement “empire.” The key is preparation: know your pension value, health benefits, and savings runway before the offer lands. A good offer combined with early planning can turn a stressful decision into a life-changing opportunity.

Although I generally agree with the sentiment towards Sarah London, this would not have happened if our elected officials had crossed party lines to solve the issues with the cost of health insurance. Thanks to our friends in DC, people lost health coverage because it is unaffordable resulting in businesses losing business, resulting in the workers long jobs.

My health insurance is the only thing keeping me here. I have a preexisting condition so I truly can't take a risk with a new company. That's it. The only reason I'm still here.

I will be leaving Exxon soon, but will likely have a couple week gap before starting my new role. I will likely be gone before end of August, but new job starts mid September. For anyone who has recently left Exxon, either through layoffs or voluntarily, how did health insurance work after your last day?

Specifically, does Exxon coverage continue through the end of the month in which you leave, or does it end on your actual termination date?

Also, for anyone who used COBRA, was there a gap where you could wait to elect it and then have coverage applied retroactively if you ended up needing it?

Trying to understand how people handled a short gap between Exxon coverage ending and coverage starting with a new employer.

Thanks!

Anyone on the Health Net / health plan side seeing RIFs hit their team yet?

I’m planning to look for a new job, and I have a question about health insurance. If I’m terminated today, will my medical insurance end immediately, or will it continue through the end of the month?

seems like we have to wait to get a COBRA packet in the mail from Centene before electing.. so I'm like is there a gap in care??? and wondering if we still qualify for marketplace if we do cobra for the 3 months.

I am so worried. My husband needs our medical coverage very much. I love my job, my role, my peers, my PL. I have been so happy for over a decade. I get good annual reviews and am worried if they go by dollars, I might be on the higher end of my pay scale and therefore easy to be picked to layoff?? Punished for being a good employee for a long time. Wouldn’t that be something. 😔

What is included in severance, if anything?

That seems to be the modus operandi with Dell now. Show up Friday morning only to be told that today is your last with the company after decades employed with the company.

Why can't they let long term employees know they'll be laid off ? Especially employees at or near retirement age. So I treat every Friday as if it's my last. But it sure is tempting to simply leave now.

The only reason for my staying is for the cheaper cost of health insurance, which I'm still carrying our older kids on, and a better retirement lifestyle. But yeah, I treat every Friday expecting it to be my last.

Have you been laid off from OoenText in the US and taken the COBRA option for health insurance? If so, can you share cost info? Thanks!

Was there for quite a while paid upwards of $1300 a month for many many years.

Deductibles were high, even on the plan where they deductible was the least amount.

Prescriptions were expensive, even with that insurance.

Post Baker Hughes I’m coming to realize that their insurance was not all that great..

Now at a different employer with their insurance, it’s 1/3 cheaper per month deductibles are very, very low and prescription medicine is cheaper.

Hi all, I'm Ike Swetlitz, a health journalist with Bloomberg News. I cover health insurance, among other topics.

I've been reading a lot of these posts about the buyouts. I'm trying to learn more, for a story.

If you're interested in speaking with me, I'd be grateful if you could contact me at iswetlitz@bloomberg.net or 630-544-9414 (cell phone - Signal / call / text / etc). You can be anonymous -- I will NOT print your name unless you give me permission. You can also find my contact information on LinkedIn or send me a message there (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ikeswetlitz/)

I'm trying to learn more about how many jobs are being eliminated, and when the buyouts are actually happening (now vs next year).

Thank you!

I apologize if this has been asked already, but I could not search by subject. This question is for anyone who has received their final severance pay Did you receive any information regarding Cobra once severance ended? Has anyone signed up for Cobra once your severance benefits ended? Thank you.

I stay because the health insurance covers my kid's therapy and the commute is only 20 minutes. My manager is clueless, but my three teammates are sharp and we cover for each other. Why would I start over somewhere else that'd probably have the exact same issues and no seniority?

https://www.business-standard.com/companies/news/cognizant-bags-multi-million-dollar-deal-from-us-health-insurer-centene-126072101329_1.html

The air is terrible here in Chicago. Why haven't they closed the offices?! They care about our health right? Nope, swipe that badge!

For retirees or those who are past the age of 55, what was your net pay raises in last 10 years, what do you estimate as the net value of the retiree health insurance?

Why is no one talking about how bad the new plan is with United Healthcare? I don’t know what I did to make Abby hate me so hard but seriously this is the insurance company we have a contract with?!?!

This regime tried nothing and is all out of ideas. MFN would have stayed in Washington and fought for not only us, but also everyone on ACA so they woulld have affordable healthcare.

To all my peeps who were treated with disloyalty by Humana and forced out, keep in mind open enrollment for Medicare Advantage plans is just around the corner, beginning October 15th.

So, be sure to give you best sales pitch on social media and to all your elderly friends to why Traditional Medicare is better and why they should switch over this year and drop Medicare Advantage.

Let’s face it, we all really knew Traditional Medicare was better, especially in regards to what health insurance should be most concerned with, which is covering a person in the unfortunate situation where they have a catastrophic health issue. Not about dental or vision appointments.

Do you people pick between these two or get your own Healthcare plan? Which ones if you do? What is this bullsht about meeting a high deductible with UHC not covering a tiny percent until you meet the deductible?? What a clown show.

Microsoft is providing laid-off US employees with a generous severance package. The offer includes up to 39 weeks of base pay, determined by seniority and tenure. Employees will also receive continued stock vesting for a period of six to twelve months. Health insurance coverage will be paid for six months, with an option for extended COBRA coverage. These terms are comparable to previous voluntary buyouts, with slightly shorter health benefits.

https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-severance-offers-layoffs-plan-2026-7

Has anyone taken the Nike paid COBRA coverage? I signed up for it today but it's alarming that in the Wageworks system it says "participant paid" and I'm on the hook for a $2400 monthly bill to cover everything for the 4 members of the family. Are we supposed to pay and get reimbursed or does Nike pay directly? If they pay directly how long does it take? Kaiser let us know that we are canceled and we're wondering how long before we're reinstated.

I just read that the Office of Personnel Management (federal government) sent VSP's to their health insurance sector yesterday. The whole system might collapse. This is no good.

If I don’t elect the Cobra coverage, will I receive the money that I would have paid toward my regular medical coverage in my lump sum?

CDW isn't what it used to be. Worse culture, worse pay, with constant cuts on top of it. So why do you stay? For me, it's health insurance. That's the only reason.

I'm trying to plan ahead in case the worst happens. What do people do about health insurance after they're laid off? Is there COBRA? Are there other options? I'd really like to know what to expect.

I think all of them are crazy. Who would want to stay in this mess? Okay, I can understand some people who are worried about health insurance and stuff like that, but isn't that going to be just as much of a problem if they're laid off after VSP is wrapped up?

Can someone please share the terms of the latest LR packages? Looking to understand how many months pay / year of service, how long health care runs for, what happens to RSU's etc.

Are you seeing the rates being subsidized ? The paperwork said cobra will be subsidized to what one paid as active employee for the x weeks of severance. Cobra paperwork has a scandalous $ for indi+ family. Any leads on how you addressed this ? TIA.

then allow the health insurance premium to remain as it is. people are hanging around for health care.

For the severance it stated should still be covered 60 days from notice with health benefits but from my spouse they're saying they have no coverage at all

Is anyone else having issues with medical coverage issues?

Just got the notice Cigna will not cover Zepbound for its employees for weightloss effective 7-1. Feels like the ultimate bait and switch: “join our program, use Omada, we cover your medication cost for this lifetime
Med!!” 2 years and 100lbs later “just kidding- you can pay $500 per month cash pay, it’s accessible now!”. Between layoffs, benefit downgrades, verint, stagnant wages I feel like I’m actually losing money working for this company not making money lol. Anyone else feel like they are paying for the “luxury” of working here? Maybe they’re just hoping we regain the weight and unalive so they can save money without additional layoffs