Prime Company Driver

Company Drivers have two plans from which to choose from for health Insurance. Drivers are eligable 3 months after hire date (if you are a CDL student, your hire date is the day you pass and recieve your CDL)

One has higher premiums with lower co-pays, vice versa for the other.

Both are Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield

I took the higher premium choice (Blue Access PPO), and have used it a couple times. I had a couple cysts removed from my scalp, and a small cancerous spot removed from my shoulder.

total of 3 visits and the doctor didnt charge me for the co-pay when they removed my stitches (3rd visit). Perscription plan only charged 80 cents for Anti-biotics, and I think 9 dollars for a steriod cream used.

The more expensive plan is: $30 Office Visits. $40 Specialist. 20% Emergency Room/Urgent Care/Inpatient. Perscriptions- Tier 1/Tier 2 10%/20% and Tier 3/Tier 4 30%/20%

First year, the premium was 66.30 a week. After one year Prime picks up more of the share and it is now 46.47

Dental is $4.14 and is a one tiered system. There is a life insurance plan that costs .54 a week.

Anyone who has ever had a hospital stay, or a major medical situation and has looked at what their bill WOULD have cost them without insurance can attest to having some insurance is better than none.

I had a sore throat a few years back that turned into a hospital stay and a $6k bill. I had maintained health insurance in the restaurant industry where fellow co-workers scoffed at paying the premiums. Well my final bill after insurance came to $800 dollars. Talk about a relief.

 

End of the year numbers

$47,318.31
134,164 dispatched miles (76,154 solo + 58010 team training)
34 Time at Home (THA)

2 pay raises from .34 to .35 and from .35 to .355
Earned 1 week paid vacation ($500)
And about $2500 in fuel bonus (trainee got paid 40% of bonus while on truck)

Perfect service record. One preventable non-dot mishap (they were'nt kidding about the break away hinges on the trailer doors. It doesnt take much to knock the door off... Conversely it doesnt take much to re-attach the door. Shop took 20 minutes and I was on my way.)

New lesson last week as I chained up for the first time.

I decided to start 2010 with a week paid vacation here at home in WA.

All in all a good year. Alot learned. I contribute 10% of my milage pay to company 401k program and I have set up and maxed out my yearly contribution to an Roth IRA ($5k) and I have a couple grand saved in the bank. I acheived my goals for the year, and think I can do a little bit better at saving by cutting back on a few expenses on the road.