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WHAT IS FLEXCHOICE AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Flexchoice is one of the health insurance options Alcoa provides its employees. Each Alcoa business unit president chooses the options that will made available within their business unit. From these pre-selected options, employees then may choose their own insurance coverage.

Each option carries a "price tag" which is deducted from each employee's annual "credits". Each "price tag" does not reflect the true cost of that option, but rather only a portion. These "price tags" vary from plant to plant, even for the same options. An employee's annual "credits" also vary from plant to plant and are set by management. If your total "price tags" are more than your "credits", the difference is deducted from your paycheck.

WHO HAS FLEXCHOICE?

Alcoa has implemented its Flexchoice health insurance for its management employees and non-union production and maintenance employees throughout the United States. Alcoa has also successfully negotiated the implementation of Flexchoice at a few of the unionized plants, although most USW members have rejected it.

HOW MUCH DO OTHER ALCOANS PAY FOR THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE?

Because Flexchoice "credits" and "price tags" vary from plant to plant, it is difficult to make an exact comparison. Most USW members at Alcoa do not pay any health insurance premiums - it is 100% paid for by Alcoa.

CAN WE IMPROVE OUR HEALTH CARE THROUGH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING?

Yes. You could negotiate which health insurance options are available to choose from, the amount of "credits" you have, and the "price tags" of each option.