Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » FMCA now charging for assist program
| FMCA now charging for assist program [message #185282] |
Fri, 21 September 2012 11:43  |
nchapekis
Messages: 165
Registered: February 2004
Location: Ypsilanti, MI
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Just got this email today from FMCA:
FMCA has teamed with Seven Corners to coordinate the FMCAssist travel assistance and medical evacuation program. Under this program, which is effective Oct. 1, 2012, a host of travel and medical care services will be available to all FMCA members — Family, Commercial and Associate.
All FMCA members may use Seven Corners for 24-hour assist services as needed, with the member being directly responsible for all expenses incurred. For enhanced coverage, members may sign up and pay the associated premium for the Voluntary Member Participation Plan, which pays for covered expenses up to certain maximums. The annual premium for the voluntary plan is $85 for one person, and $105 for a family.
This service used to be included in the membership fee but must now be elected at an addtional expense. Boo.
Nick Chapekis
Ypsilanti, MI
former owner - 78 Kingsley
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| Re: [GMCnet] FMCA now charging for assist program [message #185284 is a reply to message #185282] |
Fri, 21 September 2012 12:49  |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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Your choice would have been this or increasing FMCA dues to over $100 a year. They were losing money (a lot) and spent a few million for this insurance last year for 18 people that used it.
Emery Stora
On Sep 21, 2012, at 11:43 AM, Nick Chapekis <chapekis@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Just got this email today from FMCA:
>
> FMCA has teamed with Seven Corners to coordinate the FMCAssist travel assistance and medical evacuation program. Under this program, which is effective Oct. 1, 2012, a host of travel and medical care services will be available to all FMCA members — Family, Commercial and Associate.
>
> All FMCA members may use Seven Corners for 24-hour assist services as needed, with the member being directly responsible for all expenses incurred. For enhanced coverage, members may sign up and pay the associated premium for the Voluntary Member Participation Plan, which pays for covered expenses up to certain maximums. The annual premium for the voluntary plan is $85 for one person, and $105 for a family.
>
>
> This service used to be included in the membership fee but must now be elected at an addtional expense. Boo.
> --
> Nick Chapekis
> Ypsilanti, MI
> 78 Kingsley
> _______________________________________________
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| Re: [GMCnet] FMCA now charging for assist program [message #185285 is a reply to message #185284] |
Fri, 21 September 2012 13:00 |
nchapekis
Messages: 165
Registered: February 2004
Location: Ypsilanti, MI
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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| emerystora wrote on Fri, 21 September 2012 13:49 |
They were losing money (a lot) and spent a few million for this insurance last year for 18 people that used it.
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Well I figured that the cost was getting out of hand. But a few million? Really?
Nick Chapekis
Ypsilanti, MI
former owner - 78 Kingsley
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| Re: [GMCnet] FMCA now charging for assist program [message #185314 is a reply to message #185307] |
Fri, 21 September 2012 19:25 |
powerjon
Messages: 2446
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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The cost averaged about $110000 per person for the 18 cases involved
for a total of about 1,980,000 dollars. That is a lot of money out of
your budget and with a membership that is in the 60 thru 70 age range
it is an unsustainable cost. Am I happy that they have changed the
benefit, NO! But I understand the cost. I checked several other
third party insurance programs and individual insurance quotes came
back at $6500 to $8600 for 2 people for 1 year. Group buying greatly
reduces the cost. As Emory has said, FMCA could have kept the
benefit as it was, but the yearly dues would have been over $100 per
year. The $85 dollars and $105 dollars cost for 1 year are a real
bargain considering the other plans that are out there. It has not
gotten any cheaper to run a large organization and overall cost have
gone up on everyone. Could FMCA better control their cost, absolutely
and they need to realize that before they are no longer in business.
JR Wright
78 Buskirk Stretch
Michigan
> If it is now an optional item, then it seems that FMCA will be saving
> that few million dollars per year. Do you suppose they will be able to
> reduce dues at least back to the old $35/year level?
>
> Chris Musselman
> '74 Sequoia
> Hayward, Cal.
>
> On 9/21/2012 11:00 AM, Nick Chapekis wrote:
>>
>>
>> emerystora wrote on Fri, 21 September 2012 13:49
>>> They were losing money (a lot) and spent a few million for this
>>> insurance last year for 18 people that used it.
>>
>> Well I figured that the cost was getting out of hand. But a few
>> million? Really?
>>
> _______________________________________________
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J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMC Eastern States
GMCMI
78 30' Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
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| Re: [GMCnet] FMCA now charging for assist program [message #185315 is a reply to message #185314] |
Fri, 21 September 2012 19:41 |
armandminnie
Messages: 864
Registered: May 2009
Location: Marana, AZ
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Seems like FMCA could self-insure for a lot less than $2Mil if there were only 18 cases. How much would it cost to pay the get-the-coach-home coverage only for example? If there were only 18 cases and the cost of getting a coach home was $5000 for example, then it would have cost only $90K and we would have much of the benefit. I wouldn't advocate getting involved with medical transportation though - costs could be anything.
Armand Minnie
Marana, AZ
'76 Eleganza II TZE166V103202
visit my gmc blog
click here to visit gmcws.org
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| Re: [GMCnet] FMCA now charging for assist program [message #185318 is a reply to message #185315] |
Fri, 21 September 2012 19:53 |
powerjon
Messages: 2446
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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Armand,
You can only self insure if you have very deep pockets. The $2M was
the cost for the 18 cases and not the cost to insure. The $2M is not
fixed either, some years the cases might be only 5 or 10 or less and
some years you could have 30+ cases so cost could be all over the
map. Put yourself in the same position as you try to control your own
insurance cost each year!
JR Wright
78 Buskirk Stretch
Michigan
>
>
> Seems like FMCA could self-insure for a lot less than $2Mil if there
> were only 18 cases. How much would it cost to pay the get-the-coach-
> home coverage only for example? If there were only 18 cases and the
> cost of getting a coach home was $5000 for example, then it would
> have cost only $90K and we would have much of the benefit. I
> wouldn't advocate getting involved with medical transportation
> though - costs could be anything.
> --
> Armand Minnie
> Marana, AZ
> '76 Eleganza II
> TZE166V103202
> http://www.minniebiz.com/gmcmotorhome
> use the forum - it's easy
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J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
GMC Eastern States
GMCMI
78 30' Buskirk Stretch
75 Avion Under Reconstruction
Michigan
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| Re: [GMCnet] FMCA now charging for assist program [message #185383 is a reply to message #185319] |
Sat, 22 September 2012 10:18 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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I don't think $5K would cover a ride to the ER if you were a suspected heart case over age 65.
johnny
'76 23' transmode noris
'76 plm beach
________________________________
From: Armand Minnie <armand@minniebiz.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2012 9:01 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] FMCA now charging for assist program
The risk of self insuring that small a risk - set the limit at $5K (again, an example) and then lets say it quadruples next year. Then if all cases were $5K then you would have to spend $360K - still way smaller than what they were willing to spend before.
--
Armand Minnie
Marana, AZ
'76 Eleganza II
TZE166V103202
http://www.minniebiz.com/gmcmotorhome
use the forum - it's easy
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] FMCA now charging for assist program [message #185405 is a reply to message #185314] |
Sat, 22 September 2012 13:41 |
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FMCA didn't collect anything on this as it was an expense for the
coverage. The carrier felt it was to exposed to continue the coverage
within the guidelines of the coverage as stated. In my mind the average
expense per case seemed high. Since I'm not privy to the details I can
only speculate that there may have been some abuse of the system. That
abuse may have come from who was doing the charging rather than coming
from the ones filing the claims.
At any rate, from what I was told the coverage could have been continued
for every member with an increase in dues, yes, but a lower cost than
allowing members the option of subscribing.
The net is this, let your FMCA National Director (whatever club) know of
your sentiment. Personally, it would have been a "no-brainer" to increase
the dues to pay for the coverage for the whole group rather than take the
decision the other way. The fear was, I suppose, that members would exit
FMCA rather quickly thinking they didn't need the boost in dues in spinet
of getting "cheap insurance." I considered Assist one of the real plusses
of FMCA membership and knew a portion of my dues were going toward this
expense.
FMCA has a problem --
1) Competition from Good Sam/Camping World who appeals to all RVers
(regardless of motorhome or towable ownership). As a result, economy of
scale enters into the equation in way FMCA can't really touch in addition
to the advertising advantage (commercial vs non-profit) that is implied
with that organization. (Have you ever been to what they call "The Rally"?)
2) Percentage of population with motorhome ownership is decreasing.
Ownership of towables (travel trailers and fifth-wheelers) is growing in
comparison.
3) Average age of FMCA members is going up because younger owners of
motorhome seem to have no interest in club membership or affiliation (a
trend of the times?).
4) Economy has a small part to play in this. On of the issues is retirees,
more and more, are working at part time jobs to make things work out
economically.
There is no doubt in my mind that being a part of FMCA makes sense.
However, raising the level of knowledge among all motorhome owners so that
they see the value in FMCA membership is the biggest challenge to overcome.
The net result is that we lost a great benefit.
Byron Songer
Louisville, KY
News and Web Editor, GMC Eastern States
http://www.gmceast.com
Sights to see and places to stay ˇ©- -
Find or submit a GMCer recommendation.
http://www.gmceast.com/travel
ATTENTION: This reply is in reference to what is provided belowˇ¦
>The cost averaged about $110000 per person for the 18 cases involved
>for a total of about 1,980,000 dollars. That is a lot of money out of
>your budget and with a membership that is in the 60 thru 70 age range
>it is an unsustainable cost. Am I happy that they have changed the
>benefit, NO! But I understand the cost. I checked several other
>third party insurance programs and individual insurance quotes came
>back at $6500 to $8600 for 2 people for 1 year. Group buying greatly
>reduces the cost. As Emory has said, FMCA could have kept the
>benefit as it was, but the yearly dues would have been over $100 per
>year. The $85 dollars and $105 dollars cost for 1 year are a real
>bargain considering the other plans that are out there. It has not
>gotten any cheaper to run a large organization and overall cost have
>gone up on everyone. Could FMCA better control their cost, absolutely
>and they need to realize that before they are no longer in business.
>
>JR Wright
>78 Buskirk Stretch
>Michigan
>
>> If it is now an optional item, then it seems that FMCA will be saving
>> that few million dollars per year. Do you suppose they will be able to
>> reduce dues at least back to the old $35/year level?
>>
>> Chris Musselman
>> '74 Sequoia
>> Hayward, Cal.
>>
>> On 9/21/2012 11:00 AM, Nick Chapekis wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> emerystora wrote on Fri, 21 September 2012 13:49
>>>> They were losing money (a lot) and spent a few million for this
>>>> insurance last year for 18 people that used it.
>>>
>>> Well I figured that the cost was getting out of hand. But a few
>>> million? Really?
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>_______________________________________________
>GMCnet mailing list
>Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
--
Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
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| Re: FMCA now charging for assist program [message #185459 is a reply to message #185448] |
Sat, 22 September 2012 23:34 |
Mitch
Messages: 272
Registered: May 2009
Location: Tacoma, Wa
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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NOT putting this out as a political thing, just a thought: If we had Medicare for all, the medical side of any emergency would be covered. Then it's just a question of getting everyone home.
Now, I don't claim to know everything about Medicare as it stands; We're on it, but haven't had anything super expensive yet. (knocking on my head) but as I understand it most events are covered now.
Just sayin'| WD0AFQ wrote on Sat, 22 September 2012 19:00 |
| biggreen wrote on Sat, 22 September 2012 17:23 |
It is a shame that I can't continue my GMCMI membership without a FMCA membership. Something should be done about this.
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Just can't do anything about it.
On the insurance, what JR said.I sat through that all day meeting in Indy last month. Times are getting worse, not better.
Dan
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Mitch
Tacoma, Wa.
'80 Spitfire
'03 Windstar
'77 Jaguar XJ6-C
X(very)'76 PB 26 "The Beast"
Where it rains, always.
It's wet, No sun, Gray.
Go to Oregon.
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