With ever evolving changes to healthcare costs, Caterpillar will be offering employees and retirees multiple options in coverage next year.
For the first time in several years they will get a Health Maintenance Organization as one of their primary choices.

For the first time in several years Caterpillar employees and retirees will be able to go to Methodist Medical Center, Proctor, and Pekin Hospitals under a health maintenance organization.

"It's a win, win. There's probably a certain segment of our membership and I said so in an article that there's a segment of employees that should seriously look at this option. It's an opportunity we haven't had", said Jim Arrowood U-A-W Insurance and Benefits Chairman.

"What this really is about is giving employees and retirees a variety of chances so that as they sit down in their own circumstances with their own family they can look at a menu of options," said Caterpillar Spokesman Jim Dugan.

Dugan says there may be savings with the new option depending upon the employees needs.
Under Caterpillar's current healthcare plan employees must pay a 500–dollar deductible under the Health Maintenance Organization there is no deductible.
Caterpillar retiree Dick Wright says H–M–O's tend to be more expensive.

"As the base costs of the plan, their claims costs, their administration through United Healthcare and then the H–M–O costs as those increase then employee premium costs increase, and certainly U–A–W retirees have an increase." Wright said.

Arrowood says the U–A–W will solicit feedback from employees and retirees about the billing process, care levels and overall satisfaction.
He says that kind of information will determine if more people sign up next year for the H–M–O option.

Caterpillar retirees have until November 14th to make changes to their healthcare enrollment plan....employees have until the 21st.