
Local 591 EAP / Member Assistance
Credit IAM EAP, LAP
September 2022
Your Financial Resources
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
(Excerpts from consumerfinance.gov)
Budgeting
Making and sticking to a budget is a key step towards getting a handle on your debt and working towards a savings goal, of any kind. Let’s say you want to set money aside for emergencies or you aspire to save up for a much larger goal like a car, down payment on a house, or retirement. Until you get a realistic picture of how much money you’re bringing in and where it’s going, it’s difficult to know whether you’ll have enough left over to put away.
Getting started can be the hardest part, especially if your finances feel out of control, but these easy-to-follow steps are designed to help you create a budget that really works for you.
- Step 1: Where does my money come from? The first place to start is getting a complete picture of where your money comes from. You may be self-employed, have multiple jobs or receive child support or government benefits -- all these sources should factor into what you have available to make ends meet. Start by recording all of your income with our Income Tracker .
- Step 2: Where does my money go? Equally important but the heaviest lift is logging your spending, so you get a realistic picture of what your money, on an average month, is going to. Our Spending Tracker helps you both log and sort your spending by categories like utilities and housing to eating out and entertainment. If this feels overwhelming, start small and look at your expenses one week at a time by either reviewing your receipts or checking account. You could also start a daily log of your expenses so you’re making sure to capture those small expenses -- like buying breakfast or lunch instead of bringing it with you -- that add up over time.
- Step 3: What are all my bills and when are they due? If you’re coming up short at the end of the month, it could be that the timing for your bills and income don’t match. Our Bill Calendar is designed to help you remember when your bills are due but also keep in mind weeks when you need to be careful about your spending. Missing payments or not paying on time can also have larger impacts on your credit scores and overall financial well-being.
- Step 4: Create your working budget. Once you’ve identified all of your income sources and started tracking your spending and when your bills are due, our Budget Worksheet pulls everything together so you have a working and realistic budget.
Creating a budget will help you figure out if you have enough money to cover your expenses, while also having enough to save or spend on something extra you may want for yourself or your family. Be sure to update your budget if you experience a change in employment or your spending habits.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Resources
The following resources can be found at: www.consumerfinance.gov
If you are reading an electronic version of Helping Hands you can use the hyperlinks to click on any underlined resources to take you directly to the page.
Guides to help you understand and plan for big financial goals.
These are some examples of the resources you can find on the CFPG pages:
Find answers to your financial questions
Browse by money topic to find answers to commonly asked financial questions. Learn the basics, understand key terms, and find ways to take action when you have an issue.
Browse answers to hundreds of financial questions. Ask CFPB
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Fun September Facts
- September’s name is really quite inaccurate these days. It was originally the seventh month of the ancient Roman calendar, and as such is was named Septem, which translates into “the seventh month”. It wasn’t until 451 BC that the months of January and February were added to the calendar, making September the ninth month.
- September also used to only have 29 days. Thanks to Julius Caesar’s reform of the Roman calendar in 46 BC the month now has an additional day!
- September begins on the same day of the week of just one other month, December.
Benefits and you:
September is Time to start preparing for your 2023 benefits, we are asking for all members to review your 2022 benefits and be prepared to make the necessary changes for 2023. Please don’t be over insured but also don’t get caught underinsured!!!
How the Core, Standard, Plus and High Cost Coverage options work
FREE PREVENTIVE CARE
All the options cover eligible in-network preventive care — like physical exams, flu shots, and screenings — at 100% when you use in-network providers.
COPAYS
A copay is a fixed amount you pay for a health care service. Copays do not count toward your deductible but do count toward satisfying your annual out-of-pocket maximum.
DEDUCTIBLE
Medical services that are neither considered preventive care nor subject to a copay will require you to pay the full cost of care until you meet your annual deductible.
COINSURANCE
Once you’ve met your deductible, you and American share the cost of care, called coinsurance. When you use in-network providers, you’ll pay 20% and American will pay 80% of the cost until you’ve reached your out-of-pocket maximum.
OUT-OF-POCKET MAXIMUM
An out-of-pocket maximum is the most you’ll pay during a year. After you reach your out-of-pocket maximum, American picks up the full cost of covered medical care for the remainder of the year.
How the DFW ConnectedCare option works
No deductible: You will not have to pay a large out-of-pocket expense before the plan starts sharing your costs.
Copays when you need care: You’ll know how much you’ll spend for most care.
Faster access: Take advantage of same-day appointments, extended hours and on-site lab and imaging services. Also, Baylor Scott & White Health providers have appointment spots slated just for patients enrolled in DFW ConnectedCare.
Convenient care: Manage your health care needs, review your medical record, make appointments and connect with a provider through eVisits or Video Visits — all within the MyBSWHealth app.
Navigation and support: Dedicated health care coordinators can assist you with appointment scheduling, provider searches, where to go for care and billing questions.
Spending Accounts
Whichever option you choose, you’ll have the option to set up a pretax account that can be used to pay eligible medical, prescription drug, dental, vision and dependent care expenses.
- With the Core option, you can set up a health savings account and a limited purpose flexible spending account.
- With the Plus plan, once you have a preventive care exam, American will credit $500 to a health reimbursement arrangement for you as well as $1,000 to a retirement health reimbursement arrangement, which you can access when you retire according to American’s 65-point plan.
- With all medical options except Core, or even if you choose to waive coverage, you can choose to open a health care flexible spending account. Be sure to consider the value of these accounts when choosing your plan.
- Regardless of medical option, you can also open a dependent care flexible spending account to cover day care, day camp and elder care expenses for your eligible dependents.
These voluntary benefit offerings are separate from your health care benefits. The Added Benefits Program for American Airlines is not sponsored, administered, or endorsed by American Airlines. "Added Benefits" is a third party vendor’s trademark name for the platform of voluntary programs discussed herein and should not be interpreted to mean that American Airlines has established or maintains the programs as a benefit arrangement. American Airlines receives no consideration in connection with the program. Participation is optional and all costs are paid by you. American Airlines makes this program available to eligible employees for convenience and potential cost savings. You must call 1-855-550-0706, if you have any questions about the program or you wish to enroll. American Airlines Human Resources and the Payroll Department will not be able to assist you with questions about the program. The companies offering these benefits reserve the right to modify or terminate the coverage at any time. If the coverage is modified or terminated, participants will be notified. Copied from aaaddedbenefits.com

591 CONTACT INFO:
Ken Morse 815 483-8585. Local 591 National EAP/Benefit Director
Tony Lepore 940 536-8817. Local 591 National Benefit/EAP Director
Northeast Region
Tony Lepore - (940) 536-8817 - t.lepore@local591.com National Benefit/EAP Director
Danny Wilson - (631) 334-0933 d.wilson@local591.com Northeast Regional EAP and Benefits Coordinator
Southeast Region
Rawle Skeete (954) 559-7505 r.skeete@local591.com Southeast Regional EAP and Benefits Coordinator
Phil Revollo (954) 665-7383 MIA EAP and Benefit Member Assistance Peer
Central Region
Ken Morse (815) 483-8585 k.morse@local591.com National EAP and Benefits Director
Mark Smejkal (847)757-1954 markj.8001@gmail.com ORD EAP and Benefits Member Assistance Peer
Hector Posa (815) 323-9648. ORD MLS EAP and Benefits Member Assistance Peer
Southwest Region
John Kline (817) 819-7230 johnklinetwu@gmail.com DFW EAP and Benefits Member Assistance Peer (Terminal)
David Emerline (469) 408-8197 EEMERLINEE07@YAHOO.COM DFW (MLS) EAP and Benefits Member Assistance Peer
West Region
Sean Bruno (310) 594-2025 s.bruno@local591.com West Regional EAP and Benefits Coordinator
Edwin Joseph (310) 709-4755 jord352000@yahoo.com LAX EAP and Benefits Member Assistance Peer
Sabrina Dooley (404) 245-6048 Sabrinadooleyp@aol.com SFO EAP and Benefits Member Assistance Peer
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