Thread regarding CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield layoffs

Early retirements offered???

I heard that early retirements were being offered to people in Sales. Specifically, I heard if you are over 55 with 5 years of service the early out was being offered.

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| 13924 views | | 56 replies (last January 19) | Reply
Post ID: @OP+1jyc08brs

56 replies (most recent on top)

Any update on incentive payout for 2025 performance?

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Post ID: @y0q+1jyc08brs

@49x They are posting positions now… they want cheap labor, not hard working employees that cared!

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Post ID: @v31+1jyc08brs

I feel for all the CareFirst employees still there. I got out just before COVID, thank goodness. Took their policy as my 2ndary after Medicare. After 2 -3 years wanted me to go on their Medicare Advantage plan for prems that were off the wall & increased heavily each year as you aged! BP only wanted that Medicare Advantage plan in the makings before leaving. I left the plan & opt out to their competitor UHC Med Sup which was much lower then CFRT advantage. BP didn't want to give anything to good employees who worked there for years. After I left I heard they took away a lot of other things. So sorry for people still there.

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Post ID: @fy2+1jyc08brs

@dv7 ‘2026 incentive’ do you mean the March 2026 payout based on 2025 results?

I guess the truth is making its way upwards about the state of systems consolidation. Cognizant and other contractors are raking in countless million$$ (no lie!) while the front line associates will get reamed.

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Post ID: @ebv+1jyc08brs

No incentive, time to get out. This place is sinking, and sinking quickly. Just look at the new sales organization, a backbone of how we stay in business, and now leaders with no experience. We don’t have to wait and see because we know what the end result will be

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Post ID: @dyx+1jyc08brs

@ccn I have one foot out the door so it won’t affect me but I’ve sat in on recent executive meetings and they are preparing to tell the employees the 2026 incentive isn’t happening. They’ll cite not meeting expectations on the platform consolidation and the current government admin policies for this reason. BP was against this but was overruled by the board. (Rumors in this circle suspect that’s why he is leaving earlier than he planned)

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Post ID: @dv7+1jyc08brs

Just had many tenured employees leave and now hiring a team of provider reps in the Philippines

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Post ID: @ccn+1jyc08brs

@7pa I heard from a reliable source on the operations side Comp came back to the merging coding platform people and wanted the employees to take less $, fortunately immediate management said no but this is the crooked cr-p that has gone on under Brian P’s reign.

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Post ID: @c9t+1jyc08brs

@7mq just do the bare minimum, take their money for another year then put in for retirement.

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Post ID: @7pa+1jyc08brs

@7p1 total BS

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Post ID: @7p2+1jyc08brs

@7mq Did you get a reason for non-approval?

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Post ID: @7p1+1jyc08brs

@7mq I wonder how they will handle the backlash from someone who was denied while others with the same job were released.

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Post ID: @7nn+1jyc08brs

All that and wasn’t approved!! Seems like several were not approved 😒

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Post ID: @7mq+1jyc08brs

Cut off for VSP submission was July 28 and 15 days have now elapsed and no word. Yes, week of August 11 was always the formal announcement window but who is making the call on who is accepted? As a PL, I have heard not word one and I have staff eligible. Maybe it will be like 2019 with DK - arbitrary and indiscriminate only to lead to future regret and disappointment on the part of ELT.

Common sense would seem to dictate a balance of business function continuity and long term financial recovery but we have seen missteps and gaffs before we have common sense has escape members of the upper echelon with the ill effects raining down on those who remain.

Word is the VSP is oversubscribed and why not? Leadership promoted the VSP as a one-time VSP offering which may have contributed to a larger than expected submission rate for fear that a second wave would occur lacking the VSP program Benita and result in normal severance offerings per policy.

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Post ID: @7j0+1jyc08brs

@6cn this platform switch is going horribly wrong and it was executive leadership that made the decision, he’s leaving before it becomes a black mark on his resume

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Post ID: @6fr+1jyc08brs

CEO is now gone, what’s going on with this company

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Post ID: @6cn+1jyc08brs

@5n3 The mid 90's (possibly 1995) was the wonderful initiative to outsource IT to GTE. I correct myself as that is when the 2K was offered to IT to stay until after the takeover. It is also when Bill Jews said "I would not sell IT down the river unless it was for the good of the company." After that fiasco, no 2K bonus and just a swim party to compensate those of us who stayed on. Ah, good times!!!!

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Post ID: @5y5+1jyc08brs

@OP The sad truth is too many workplaces would happily watch half of their most talented and loyal employees leave, rather than hold one toxic member of their leadership team accountable.

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Post ID: @5pe+1jyc08brs

@3hx 1998-1999

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Post ID: @5n3+1jyc08brs

@49x merge with who??

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Post ID: @5jn+1jyc08brs

@5cp I don't think this is a rumor. All that money wasted redoing that building.

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Post ID: @5dc+1jyc08brs

@4yq Does this mean that we'll be finding out about other layoffs if the number isn't reached with voluntary retirement?

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Post ID: @5cz+1jyc08brs

I heard they are closing OM building and will be using Merriweather.

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Post ID: @5cp+1jyc08brs

Oh difference makers…go make a difference somewhere else.

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Post ID: @50j+1jyc08brs

For those who decide to stay, if you are let go, we get nothing. Now I see comments about severance. Do you have any more information?

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Post ID: @4z5+1jyc08brs

Get them in while you still can. Monday night is the cutoff. Good luck to all and may BP accept one and all that apply.

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Post ID: @4yq+1jyc08brs

@345 where on the intranet is the regular severance?

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Post ID: @4td+1jyc08brs

VSP program is a slap in the face for seasoned associates. Everyone I spoke with regarding program feels they are being pushed out and have no option but to take offer as we were told if bottom line wasn't met, then there would be layoffs. BP only cares about how CareFirst looks in the public eye and does not care about his employees. Used to be proud to work here, but not now.

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Post ID: @4n9+1jyc08brs

They are saying they won’t rehire positions that are vacated for 12 months because there is a merger in the works.

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Post ID: @49x+1jyc08brs

@47x This will be the worst for the poor associates that are left in the wake. Just let all the ba--s drop. Maybe they will learn a very tough lessen about how they treat their associates. I'm very concerned about the future of the company. Our CEO has zero business acumen, and I believe is just pushing his own agenda (possibly political). I can't believe our board hasn't put a stop to his nonsense.

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Post ID: @486+1jyc08brs

I work in a highly tenured area of the organization and am terrified. All of my peers who are eligible are taking the package and I'm not sure how my unit will manage with their absence (compounded by the fact they can't rehire for their role for 12 months!).

I've been with CF for quite awhile but am shy of 55. Is this place even going to be around for me to retire from?!

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Post ID: @47x+1jyc08brs

@3hs this will set WM to run for president with him pushing BP to run for governor.

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Post ID: @3vb+1jyc08brs

@OP a problem I have with this offer is the part about being approved for it..So you agonize over it and finally conclude you will accept it and they can still turn you down? Makes no sense to me

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Post ID: @3tj+1jyc08brs

@3hc It may be a coinsidence, but the Independence BlueCross BlueShield plan made a move/announcement similar to ours.

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Post ID: @3qm+1jyc08brs

@3ew I think a buyout is what he’s been after all along. If he runs CF into the ground the Insurance Commissioner will have no choice but to let CF be absorbed into another Blue.

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Post ID: @3pk+1jyc08brs

Let’s keep it real, executive leadership decided a platform switch was necessary and while it probably was they chose the wrong platform swap. Now, seeing how horribly it’s going and the extra money it’s costing they go to the cost cutting well.

  1. Offer early outs to seasoned employees
  2. Cut real estate (Cumberland building)
  3. Cut high salaried employees (non-execs)
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Post ID: @3jh+1jyc08brs

@3hm Ahhhhh, the Wellpoint merger. That was in 94 or 95. I'm still waiting for the 2K bonus for not jumping ship back then when most of IT went to T. Rowe Price.

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Post ID: @3hx+1jyc08brs

He and the Governor (MrTaxMoore) are very friendly so it may not be an impossible feat.

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Post ID: @3hs+1jyc08brs

@3hc That would require approval by the Maryland Legislature. Similar to how CF wanted to be absorbed by WellPoint about 20 years ago before the Legislature halted it.

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Post ID: @3hm+1jyc08brs

“If it's that bad this time, the organization is ripe for being taken over by another Blues plan.”

You’re getting warmer…..

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Post ID: @3hc+1jyc08brs

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