AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT QUALCHOICE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE INSURANCE

Little Rock, Arkansas-based QualChoice Health Plan Services, a manager of Medicare Advantage health insurance plans through Soundpath Health, will close its Federal Way office and layoff 164 employees.

QualChoice’s owner since 2014, Catholic Health Initiatives, has decided to divest its health plan operations and has sold the Soundpath health contract to Premera Blue Cross. The layoffs should come as no surprise to any employee as the company announced its plans to divest its certain health plan operations in 2016.

However, the plan closing does come as a shock to its senior citizen clients. In a letter dated October 2, 2018, the company advised its members that “QualChoice Advantage won’t offer your Medicare plan in 2019. This means your coverage through QualChoice Advantage will end December 31, 2018. You need to make some decisions about your Medicare coverage. It is important you take action before December 31, or you will lose your prescription drug coverage and only have Original Medicare starting January 1, 2019.”

It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere ... are you wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT KONICA MINOLTA

Tokyo, Japan-based copier, photographic, and business-equipment manufacturer Konica Minolta has announced the closing of two of its Windsor, Connecticut facilities and the permanent lay off of another 219 employees in a move to consolidate its operations at its Ramsey, New Jersey U.S. headquarters.

This should come as no surprise to employees as the layoffs of all 451 employees was announced in April 2018 and commencing in July 2018.

According to a WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice, the company, on December 14, 2018 will begin laying off 219 workers, including 18 billing specialists, 14 support associates, 11 account specialists and 11 sales administrators, some of whom may be offered jobs in other company facilities.

Are you wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT VANGUARD PRINTING

Another commercial printer is permanently closing their doors as the printing industry consolidates and the impact of electronic printing and advertising disrupts the need for commercial printing. Ithaca, New York-based Vanguard Printing plans to shutter its facility and layoff all of its 120 employees. The privately-owned company was managed by Kappa Printing Management Associates. The disposition of the equipment is unknown. 

According to a statement from Vanguard Acting General Manager Thomas Simunek, "You have made many positive contributions to the Company during your tenure and we thank you for your dedication and efforts."

A number of competitors have expressed their sentiments for the employees and appear to be hiring. The handwriting was clearly on the wall when the WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice was filed on June 29, 2018.  

Are you wondering, Am I Next?