stacyp
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posted on October 29, 2002 06:25:20 PM new
any one see/hear any updates ?
when it will be coming out...what it will entail...who will be eligible..costs?
thanks
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replaymedia
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posted on October 29, 2002 08:20:20 PM new
They've temporarily given up on it, as they found out it was a lot more complicated than they had first thought.
They say they'll release some more details in January.
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horsey88
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posted on October 29, 2002 09:47:59 PM new
They are still trying to find a company that will give them 50% of the premiums for simply turning over the email addresses of their 56 million registered users. Problem is the insurance company wants a definative count of unique users as opposed to registered ones.
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tooltimes
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posted on October 29, 2002 10:41:10 PM new
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y02/m10/i07/s01
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askdaruma
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posted on October 30, 2002 05:17:42 AM new
did it mention how much is premium??
traditional group insurance covers a well defined group -say all employees of a retail company XYZ who come to work daily in safe and secure environment from 8-5 and have been already screened by employers to be fit and healthy to work.
but this is not the case of ebay powersellers-you have a loose confederation of part time and full time sellers who work from home mostly,some are homemakers,disabled ,retired .college kids etc.
i would say the insurance underwriters would have a hard time pricing the premium and business does not like uncertainty and will definitely price the premium higher,not lower than traditional group policy.
so the healthy ones will prefer to keep their own insurance policy rather than join a higher priced one offered by ebay.
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uaru
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posted on October 30, 2002 06:18:10 AM new
eBay Healthcare Program Status
I have this nagging feeling that when they get a program the rates will be prohibitive to many and what once was a public relations bonanza will become a public relations black eye.
eBay's not going to want to lose money, and you can bet the insurance company isn't going to lose money. I expect to see a very complicated and very expen$ive program.
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tooltimes
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posted on October 30, 2002 06:31:43 AM new
After all the smoke cleared, I was under the impression the insurance was only for ebay Power Sellers that sold a LOT of merchandise each month. Like $50K to $100K per month. In these cases it would be profitable to keep these sellers at ebay with a health insurance perk, even if ebay had to pay a hefty monthly premium to do so.
No way is this health plan for the lower levels of Power Sellers in my opinion.
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replaymedia
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posted on October 30, 2002 06:42:08 AM new
Tooltimes- No, at some spoint they said it will be for all powersellers. *I* think the reason they lowered requirements for PS a couple months back was to build their powerseller numbers up to look good to the insurance companies.
But eBay has never said the insurance would be free.
Expect the lower-level powersellers to pay more for their premiums.
Probably the super-sellers will get it for free, but you can count on the rest of us paying through the nose.
For some of us who've been rejected countless times by insurance providers, it STILL sounds like it may be worthwhile.
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tooltimes
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posted on October 30, 2002 07:37:51 AM new
I can only see ebay paying a tiny percentage of the health insurance plan for $1K/month Power Sellers. Their boast will be that they are able to offer the health plan at a nice premium over an individual seeking the same plan because of their high number of people got them a sweetheart deal.
One of the big shocks many people in the workforce are facing is the loss of their medical/dental insurance. There are COBRA laws where laid off workers are offered the same type of medical/dental insurance as they had before they were laid off at the discount rate the company got because of it's size. The problem is that even with the volume discount the companies receive the plans still cost a lot of money per month. A decent plan can cost $500-$750 per month to the company per employee. A laid off worker can hardly afford those premiums.
I can not see ebay paying more than a few dollars of any premium to a seller that sells only $1K/month. The scenario will be like that offered to laid off workers, good insurance at a reduced amount than if they tried to get it by themselves. And like a laid off worker that cost will be too high for most.
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horsey88
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posted on October 30, 2002 08:03:31 AM new
"I can only see ebay paying a tiny percentage of the health insurance plan for $1K/month Power Sellers."
Where did you ever get that idea that Ebay will be paying anything ??
They will be collecting for every sheep they lead to the slaughter. I wouldn't be surprised if they make a new level of powersellers to boost the sheep totals. Something like a $100/month steel powerseller.
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stacyp
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posted on October 30, 2002 08:16:56 AM new
ANY ONE HAVE ANY INFO ON (AS MENTIONED IN THE AUCTIONBITES ARTICLE)
CHAMBER OF COMERCE
OR NATIONAL ASSOCATION OF SELF EMPLOYED
PHONE NUMBERS OR WHAT THEY OFFER INSURANCE WISE...A NOTE WHERE TO START WITH THEM?
THANKS
STACY
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Reamond
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posted on October 30, 2002 09:56:33 AM new
If Fortune 500 companies are struggling to provide good health insurance for their employees, why would anybody think that eBay can provide good insurance at a reasonable price ?
Employers are either dropping paid insurance or shifting the premium costs to their employees.
So now eBay can enter the market and have better group rates ?? Don't think so.
The premiums will be no better than your local insrance agent can offer.
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tooltimes
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posted on October 30, 2002 10:38:23 AM new
The big employers do get a volume discount. IMO, the ebay health plan is mostly for the really big Power Sellers that ebay doesn't want to loss to emerging rivals like AOLs new upcoming auction. I don't think ebay thought this through very well and now they are stuck with public relations nightmare.
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capotasto
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posted on October 30, 2002 02:20:23 PM new
""eBay PowerSellers are composed of individuals and businesses scattered throughout the country, and thus, are not a traditional group as defined by healthcare providers," the unsigned announcement said."
That is pure BS. The Small Business Administration and the Nat Assn of Self Employed offers group rates to members and these are "individuals and businesses scattered throughout the country".
Ebay lies and doublespeak as usual.
Stacyp, do a google search for NASE and SBA. And contact your local CC.
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askdaruma
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posted on October 30, 2002 03:26:49 PM new
but the ebay sellers are a notch below your traditional small busineses like drycleaners and gift shops.
no offense,those are better established and better capitalised and thus better risks.
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capotasto
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posted on October 30, 2002 03:56:44 PM new
askdaruma, you may be right but if it is their business and they file Sched C they are still able to join SBA, NASE and their local CC.
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horsey88
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posted on October 30, 2002 03:57:42 PM new
So does a powerseller need health insurance for all his shill bidding alter egos ??
[ edited by horsey88 on Oct 30, 2002 04:46 PM ]
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