You should have received or should be receiving an HRA package from IBM. It contains 2 forms for reimbursement. 1. Recurring Premium Expense Reimbursement Request and 2. Retiree Claim for Reimbursement - similar to what we had with VIA. You can also file on-line at and via e-mail at
optumclaims@... (that ... is optumbank.com).? Optum is a subsidiary of UHC. You can call 1-866-882-0397 for information.??
Personally, I think the HRA package they sent comes up short. While they play up we will get a "payment card" (like a debit card) that will receive any reimbursement, they did not mention if you could have a direct deposit right to your checking account. From what I gathered from the HRA package I just received, it will work similar to what we had with VIA, but not identical. I suspect you will have to submit a recurring expense claim for them to take it out of your HRA. Recurring expenses must be submitted at the beginning of the year.
It sort of looks like that right hand (or left hand) doesn't know what the right hand is doing in your case. UHC want their premium payment up front and their subsidiary won't have access to the funds until 1/1/23. Don't they give a grace period? I had one with VSP while we were on VIA. They collected from VIA in Dec. for the following year.?
I have my own questions about that one-time credit for signing up whether they take from the HRA first and the credit second or vice-versa. Also, my wife and I are on the Essential plan and even though she doesn't get anything, the HRA package looks like I can claim her expenditures against the $1300 like I did on VIA. That extra $300 is not from IBM, but many of the Med. Advantage plans provide that by reducing what is taken out for the Medicare premium ($25/mo) taken out of the monthly SS check (25 x 12 = 300). We had that reduction this year in our Aetna plan (it might have been $30/mo.).
