Small Project Design

The AIA Trust has a history of poor service to AIA members.  Twenty-five years ago I was enrolled in an AIA Health Insurance program provided through Aetna Insurance.  My daughter was born with congenital heart problems and needed appropriate medical care.  After some years in the program Aetna came out with a new program which they said could provide lower rates - you were required to apply to it to see if you qualified to be enrolled.  As you might expect, I did not qualify.  And over the next year, as everyone who did qualify (those with minimal health issues) moved over to the new program, those of us with family health issues were left as the dregs in the old program.  Then, Aetna made huge premium rate increases over the next couple of years forcing me, and I imagine others, to drop out of the program.  

When I contacted the AIA through phone calls and a letter, I was told there was nothing the AIA or the AIA Trust could do for me.  Silly me, here I thought being a member of a professional group, where we all got together to share our risk, and cover each other's backs (for those of us unfortunate enough to have health issues we had nothing to do with causing) was a benefit of being an AIA member!

As another blogger posted, I'm not sure why I am still a member of the American Institute of Architects!

-------------------------------------------
Richard Neumann AIA
Neumann Richard Architect
Petoskey MI
-------------------------------------------

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Committee on the Environment and Small Project Practitioners .
-------------------------------------------
Dear AIA Members,
I just wanted to give all a heads up warning to those of you who may subscribe to the AIA Trust Dental Plan.
I have been a subscriber to that plan for some years now, and only just discovered that I am paying more money in than I could ever possibly get back.
With the latest rise in premiums, my total annual cost has become $2067, and the maximum that the plan pays out is $1000 per person annually. It is only covering myself and my wife. When I checked with the AIA Trust on this they confirmed that this was the case, and apologized, but said that they had no better plan to offer.
To add to the injury, they only pay out a certain percentage of the amount that the dentist invoices; and they have never had to pay out the full $2000 - it's usually less than half of that.
I had really hoped the AIA would have my back on this one.
Buyer Beware!

-------------------------------------------
Richard Griffin AIA
Richard W. Griffin Architect
Salem MA
-------------------------------------------

See if you can find out if AIA employees get a better rate. ------------------------------------------- Clifton Strickland III AIA Architect Strickland Architects and Associates PC Virginia Beach VA -------------------------------------------
Original Message: Sent: 10-19-2012 12:41 From: Richard Griffin Subject: AIA Trust Dental Plan This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Committee on the Environment and Small Project Practitioners . ------------------------------------------- Dear AIA Members, I just wanted to give all a heads up warning to those of you who may subscribe to the AIA Trust Dental Plan. I have been a subscriber to that plan for some years now, and only just discovered that I am paying more money in than I could ever possibly get back. With the latest rise in premiums, my total annual cost has become $2067, and the maximum that the plan pays out is $1000 per person annually. It is only covering myself and my wife. When I checked with the AIA Trust on this they confirmed that this was the case, and apologized, but said that they had no better plan to offer. To add to the injury, they only pay out a certain percentage of the amount that the dentist invoices; and they have never had to pay out the full $2000 - it's usually less than half of that. I had really hoped the AIA would have my back on this one. Buyer Beware! ------------------------------------------- Richard Griffin AIA Richard W. Griffin Architect Salem MA -------------------------------------------

Mr Griffin

I currently have health and dental insurance thru my membership with the TN Farm Bureau.  I have found their level of coverage and pricing to be very competitive. You might check with the MA Farm Bureau to see what options they have available...

-------------------------------------------
rob mckelvey
McKelvey Architecture, Inc.
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2012 06:44
From: Clifton Strickland III
Subject: AIA Trust Dental Plan

See if you can find out if AIA employees get a better rate.

-------------------------------------------
Clifton Strickland III AIA
Architect
Strickland Architects and Associates PC
Virginia Beach VA
-------------------------------------------

I share your outrage, Mr. Griffin. Since learning of this rate structure last week, I have had numerous conversations with our administrator  (who deals directly with Met Life, the insurer). We are asking them to initiate a different structure that addresses member + spouse and makes sense financially. If Met Life is unwilling to do that, the Trustees will consider discontinuing this program at their meeting next week. The Trustees, who are AIA members, work very hard to ensure quality programs with excellent value are offered to all AIA members - that in fact is the purpose of the Trust. It appears we missed the boat on providing value on this one and we will work diligently to correct our error.

-------------------------------------------
Ann Casso
Executive Director
AIA Trust
Washington DC
-------------------------------------------

I had to abandon AIA Trust for Health Insurance many years ago as the premiums were astronomical  for a healthy, 40-ish man. As a sole proprietor without access/eligibility to group plans and their inherent protections over individual health insurance (I thought AIA Trust would be this for me), I am at the mercy of the insurance industry to set whatever rates they choose for me. My current premiums are just now beginning to eclipse the rates I paid thru AIA Trust. A major illness could mean devestation to my finances and savings as I am only a small step from being uninsurable (due to continued escalating premiums and my ability to pay them). 

When I dropped the AIA Trust Health insurance, they apologized for the high premiums and stated that only "really sick people" who could not find insurance elsewhere (which they suggested to me) were still currently members of the Trust. That was almost a decade ago. I think it derelict and reprehensible that a large organization like the AIA cannot (or will not) provide comprehensive, group healthcare insurance to their members at competitive rates. It's both embarrassing and shameful.

-------------------------------------------
Don Leighton-Burwell AIA
Owner
DLB Architect
Austin TX
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2012 11:03
From: Ann Casso
Subject: AIA Trust Dental Plan

I share your outrage, Mr. Griffin. Since learning of this rate structure last week, I have had numerous conversations with our administrator  (who deals directly with Met Life, the insurer). We are asking them to initiate a different structure that addresses member + spouse and makes sense financially. If Met Life is unwilling to do that, the Trustees will consider discontinuing this program at their meeting next week. The Trustees, who are AIA members, work very hard to ensure quality programs with excellent value are offered to all AIA members - that in fact is the purpose of the Trust. It appears we missed the boat on providing value on this one and we will work diligently to correct our error.

-------------------------------------------
Ann Casso
Executive Director
AIA Trust
Washington DC
-------------------------------------------

Up untill about 15 years ago I could purchase health insurance through the AIA (Texas Society of Architects specifically) then one day as a one man shop, I was no longer qualified for the Group insurance programs. Seems that one Architect is not enough of a group. The insurance companies are only going to look to their best interest and profits.

-------------------------------------------
Robert Woodhull AIA
Principal
Robert L. Woodhull, A.I.A. Architects
Plano TX
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2012 11:03
From: Ann Casso
Subject: AIA Trust Dental Plan

I share your outrage, Mr. Griffin. Since learning of this rate structure last week, I have had numerous conversations with our administrator  (who deals directly with Met Life, the insurer). We are asking them to initiate a different structure that addresses member + spouse and makes sense financially. If Met Life is unwilling to do that, the Trustees will consider discontinuing this program at their meeting next week. The Trustees, who are AIA members, work very hard to ensure quality programs with excellent value are offered to all AIA members - that in fact is the purpose of the Trust. It appears we missed the boat on providing value on this one and we will work diligently to correct our error.

-------------------------------------------
Ann Casso
Executive Director
AIA Trust
Washington DC
-------------------------------------------

If this is accurate, it's hard to imagine a greater disservice to members on such a basic issue and such a cavalier response from the organization. Shameful. ------------------------------------------- Mark Baum AIA Architect Chenevert Architects LLC New Orleans LA -------------------------------------------

and we pay dues for this?

-------------------------------------------
Peter Grina AIA
Grina Architects, PLLC
Washington DC
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2012 15:22
From: Mark Baum
Subject: AIA Dental

If this is accurate, it's hard to imagine a greater disservice to members on such a basic issue and such a cavalier response from the organization. Shameful.

-------------------------------------------
Mark Baum AIA
Architect
Chenevert Architects LLC
New Orleans LA
-------------------------------------------

We have researched dental plans before and have never found one that was worthwhile. I hope you have better luck than I did.

-------------------------------------------
Thomas Mullinax AIA
President
Hospice Design Resource, PLLC
Hilton Head Island SC
-------------------------------------------

I have found the same on dental plans.  They all cover and pay out about the same as listed by Richard's original message.

The best solution is Health Savings Account (HSA), which of course our current President wants to phase out because he wants everyone to be covered by government healthcare.  But the HSA works!!!!   It provides you with a mechanism to save up for the procedures such as dental issues that will arise and then you can go in and negotiate the rates with the provider whether dental or health.  You can also use the HSA for vision care as well.   Most providers are more than willing to negotiate rates which most of the time are better than health insurace companies negotiate because there is less red tape for them and they get their money quicker.   However, if you prefer you can attach a health insurance plan to the HSA so that you get the same rates and coverage as with a regular insurance plan.

The key is you will have a higher deductible but unless you or a family member have chronic health issues you can easily save up a nice little tax deffered health nest egg with a HSA.

-------------------------------------------
Wayne Oakley AIA
Architect/Partner
Studio Oakley Architects, LLC
Lebanon TN
-------------------------------------------






Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2012 08:19
From: Thomas Mullinax
Subject: AIA Dental Plan

We have researched dental plans before and have never found one that was worthwhile. I hope you have better luck than I did.

-------------------------------------------
Thomas Mullinax AIA
President
Hospice Design Resource, PLLC
Hilton Head Island SC
-------------------------------------------

Please know that no one at the AIA Trust takes any of the decisions regarding healthcare in a cavalier fashion. All of the AIA Trustees, who are concerned AIA members just like you, want only to offer members the best possible programs. The healthcare insurance arena is an ever-changing market, impacted by both federal and state regulations - as well as the profit-making goals of the insurance companies. While the Trust would like nothing better than to offer AIA members a low-cost, comprehensive healthcare plan, there simply isn't one available.

In June 2010, the Trust launched a trial program with Trustmark for employer health insurance offered in 29 states. The implementation of the national healthcare legislation just after we had signed the agreement with Trustmark impacted the pricing & benefits negatively. In addition, a large problem is offering a plan across states due to varying state regulations (now compounded with federal regulations). Unfortunately, we found that it wasn't very competitively priced and members were not interested; since it wasn't a good value, the Trust terminated the program last fall.  We know that some state components are considering offering health insurance, and given the varying state restrictions, offering health insurance within a given state may have better chances of success.

 The AIA Trust has posted a short webinar on national healthcare reform and its effects on firms to the AIA Trust website, www.TheAIATrust.com , in the Member Resources section. As new Federal regulations are sorted out and interpretations and decisions come out on various requirements, this will be updated. It's important to note that based on recent regulations, national associations can no longer form a 'group' for purposes of experience rating; that is now required to be done on a state-by-state basis so having an association group plan loses most if not all of its significance. The Trust continues to offer a no-cost, no-obligation health insurance brokerage service through its website to help members shop for and compare individual and small group plans.

 

-------------------------------------------
Ann Casso
Executive Director
AIA Trust
Washington DC
-------------------------------------------