Highmark lays off 132 (ObamaCare Strikes)

TribLive ^ | February 11, 2014 | Alex Nixon

[ConservativeInPA]

Highmark Inc. laid off 132 workers in information technology and sales on Tuesday, including 65 in Pittsburgh, saying that it needed to align its workforce with its changing business.

[ConservativeInPA]

This is a result of ObamaCare. My wife got the axe last Friday as a contractor/IT consultant to Highmark. Supposedly there was or will be another round of layoffs for non-IT employees. The contract that my wife was on was related to vision insurance. There was such a mad rush on benefits in the last quarter before people lost their insurance that they got crushed financially.

[kvanbrunt2]

R u in Harrisburg or Pitts? I deal with Highmark every day.

[ConservativeInPA]

harrisburg area

[matthew fuller]

It’s not a layoff, it’s a liberation!

[HamiltonJay]

I wouldn’t blame Obamacare for this, Highmark’s IT is a fustercluck.

[randita]

They have to make up some excuse besides Obamacare or they’ll be in trouble with the IRS.

[kvanbrunt2]

They also own VisionWorks stores

[blackdog]

I'm a Steelworker's union member, covered by Highmark Blue Cross. I had to go on their insurance plan because my wife lost hers. It turns out the plan is much better than the one we had. The premiums are about 30% of the one we had with her employer.

I'm in the southern states, have nothing to do with steel, but I had to join the union when I hired in.

Our contract guarantees us on this plan until 2021 unless someone closes or goes bankrupt. The big fight for us now is that it will be considered a "cadillac" plan. The union is having a hard time explaining they fought hard for our benefits, only to have the government tax the benefit.

[nascarnation]

Funemployment.

[kvanbrunt2]

I’ve been there on several occasions

[Secret Agent Man]

or an opportunity to explore career options in other companies. love it when they phrase it that way. they sound like they’re doing you a big favor.

[Lisbon1940]

I think it’s because AJ Burnett pulled out of the Burgh. More $$ in Philly.

[HamiltonJay]

I am talking about their IT department/division. They are good insurance but trust me they destroyed their IT division years ago.. It’s beyond screwed up at every level.