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Re: IBM Employee Issues ERISA Applies To The IBM HRA

 

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I am not a legal professional and things seem to still be evolving on the IBM HRA, but here is my interpretation of ERISA as it applies to the IBM HRA and ExtendHealth. This was my response to a question I received earlier on ibmretireeissues.

Can you net this out?

My interpretations of the highlighted portions of the ERISA summary posted on the DOL website as I posted on these list-serves are:

  1. ERISA applies to the IBM HRA.
  2. IBM established and controls the HRA and as such has a fiduciary responsibility to the beneficiaries.
  3. ExtendHealth as the organization responsible for administration of the HRA also has a fiduciary responsibility to the beneficiaries.
  4. IBM/EH must provide a SPD to the beneficiaries but have not [yet].

?

My concerns/suspicions/opinions based on my personal observations/experiences are:

  1. IBM has exceeded its authority and created a possible conflict of interest by requiring that individual health insurance be purchased through, Extend Health, a private health exchange and the organization responsible for administration of the IBM HRA, in order to receive the benefits of the IBM HRA.
  2. Extend Health is engaging in a conflict of interest violation of ERISA through the deceptive practices of limiting the health insurance choices of the IBM HRA beneficiaries and by “pushing” those individual health plans that maximize commissions for Extend Health.
  3. IBM has a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that Extend Health, as the administrator of the IBM HRA, does not engage in practices that violate requirements of ERISA.
  4. If IBM is, or should be, aware of Extend Health violations of ERISA and does not take corrective action, then IBM is also in violation of ERISA.
  5. In light of the above, it is also possible, but can not be known without access to the detailed IBM HRA Plan documents and the contract between IBM and Extend Health, that Extend Health may be incentivised to limit claims to the IBM HRA so as to maximize the funds to be returned to IBM at the end of the calendar year, which would also be a violation of ERISA.

From: skip.mcgaughey@...
To: IBM_RETIREE@...
Date: Thu, 10 Oct 2013 11:16:18 -0700
Subject: IBM Employee Issues RE: ERISA Applies To The IBM HRA

?

Thanks for the information and post.
Do you or anyone know any IBM knowledgeable legal people or retired federal regulators who can help us with understanding the legal and regulatory issues associated with ERISA.
Thanks.....
Skip.McGaughey@... ?


---In ibm_retiree@..., wrote:

The IBM Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) is an employee [retiree] welfare benefit plan [health plan] and, as such, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act – ERISA applies.

Below are applicable sections of ERISA, from the DOL website, with highlights added.

Employee Retirement Income Security Act — ERISA

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established pension and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans.
ERISA requires plans to provide participants with including important information about plan features and funding; provides for those who manage and control plan assets; requires plans to establish a grievance and appeals process for participants to get benefits from their plans; and gives participants the right to sue for benefits and breaches of fiduciary duty.
There have been a number of amendments to ERISA, expanding the protections available to health benefit plan participants and beneficiaries. One important amendment, the , provides some workers and their families with the right to continue their health coverage for a limited time after certain events, such as the loss of a job. Another amendment to ERISA is the which provides important new protections for working Americans and their families who have preexisting medical conditions or might otherwise suffer discrimination in health coverage based on factors that relate to an individual's health. Other important amendments include the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act, the Mental Health Parity Act, and the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act.
In general, ERISA does not cover group health plans established or maintained by governmental entities, churches for their employees, or plans which are maintained solely to comply with applicable workers compensation, unemployment, or disability laws. ERISA also does not cover plans maintained outside the United States primarily for the benefit of nonresident aliens or unfunded excess benefit plans.
?

Plan Information

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) requires plan administrators — the people who run plans — to give plan participants in writing the most important facts they need to know about their retirement and health benefit plans including plan rules, financial information, and documents on the operation and management of the plan. Some of these facts must be provided to participants regularly and automatically by the plan administrator. Others are available upon request, free-of-charge or for copying fees. The request should be made in writing.
One of the most important documents participants are entitled to receive automatically when becoming a participant of an ERISA-covered retirement or health benefit plan or a beneficiary receiving benefits under such a plan, is a summary of the plan, called the summary plan description or SPD. The plan administrator is legally obligated to provide to participants, free of charge, the SPD. The summary plan description is an important document that tells participants what the plan provides and how it operates. It provides information on when an employee can begin to participate in the plan, how service and benefits are calculated, when benefits becomes vested, when and in what form benefits are paid, and how to file a claim for benefits. If a plan is changed, participants must be informed, either through a revised summary plan description, or in a separate document, called a summary of material modifications, which also must be given to participants free of charge.
In addition to the summary plan description, the plan administrator must automatically give participants each year a copy of the plan's summary annual report. This is a summary of the annual financial report that most plans must file with the Department of Labor. These reports are filed on government forms called the Form 5500. The summary annual report is available at no cost. To learn more about the plan assets, participants may ask the plan administrator for a copy of the annual report in its entirety.
If participants are unable to get the summary plan description, the summary annual report or the annual report from the plan administrator, they may be able to obtain a copy by writing to the U.S. Department of Labor, EBSA, Public Disclosure Room, Room N-1513, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, for a nominal copying charge. Participants should provide their name, address and phone number to enable EBSA to contact them to follow up on the request.

Fiduciary Responsibilities

The protects your plan's assets by requiring that those persons or entities who exercise discretionary control or authority over plan management or plan assets, have discretionary authority or responsibility for the administration of a plan, or provide investment advice to a plan for compensation or have any authority or responsibility to do so are subject to fiduciary responsibilities. Plan fiduciaries include, for example, plan trustees, plan administrators, and members of a plan's investment committee.
The primary responsibility of fiduciaries is to run the plan solely in the interest of participants and beneficiaries and for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits and paying plan expenses. Fiduciaries must act prudently and must diversify the plan's investments in order to minimize the risk of large losses. In addition, they must follow the terms of plan documents to the extent that the plan terms are consistent with ERISA. They also must avoid conflicts of interest. In other words, they may not engage in transactions on behalf of the plan that benefit parties related to the plan, such as other fiduciaries, services providers, or the plan sponsor.
Fiduciaries who do not follow these principles of conduct may be personally liable to restore any losses to the plan, or to restore any profits made through improper use of plan assets. Courts may take whatever action is appropriate against fiduciaries who breach their duties under ERISA including their removal.
Re: HRA available with drug plan

 

RRM,


I have to tell you that you and I are on the same page when it comes to getting things from IBM in writing. ?I was one of those who retired from IBM in June of 1991 on the VTPP. In fact I was the Branch Manager of IBM's Salem, OR branch and I ran the information program for the potential retirees. ?Two things I was told when I went to HQ to get information on the VTPP, was that we would get cost of living increases on our pension and that we were "grandfathered in" on our medical plan for us and our spouse. ?IBM has not followed through on either of tose promises. ?No COLA's since retiring in 1991 and continual increases in the cost of our medical plan. ?Now we are being thrown under the bus on our medical plan.. ?


Today I spent an hour on the phone with Fidelity, Extend Health, Budco and then back to Fidelity to try to get ONE question answered. ?A Customer Resolution Manager with Fidelity promised to get me an answer to my question..What I was asking, was this. ?If we choose the survivor option on the HRA of $2,600 in my case, what happens if my wife dies before I do? ?Does my HRA revert back to the $3,500 option I would get if I choose not to take the survivor option? ?Or does it revert back to the $2,600 for choosing the survivor option. ?Or does it stay at the $1,300 that my wife and I choose if we decide to take this option? ?When I retired in 1991, I choose a 50% joint and survivor restore option. ?That option moves my pension plan back to the original amount if my wife pre-deceases me. ?But in the letter I got from IBM, ONLY speaks of the case of my dying before my wife. ?It says nothing about what happens if she dies before me. ?. ? ? ? . ?.?



---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote:

(Also posted on IBMretiree)

I just got off the phone with E-Health and was told that buying a drug
plan through E-Health qualifies same as medical plan as basis for HRA. I
was told that this is a change from IBM last week. This is good news for
many of us because the only medical plans they offered in my state were
Humana and AARP and AARP is not on Advantage plans. I consider AARP a
political organization, I do not belong to it, and would not join as a
prerequisite to coverage. My doctor group that I have used for the last
30 years is not in the Humana network and will not accept them as
insurer. On the Humana website they do not come up in the doctor search
and my wife's doctors group is not taking new Medicare patients and is
not on the Humana site either. This frees me up to probably get our
policies from BCBS.

I asked the E-Health rep to get an email and/or a web-site posting to
verify this information stressing to her that we normally believe only
that which we get in writing.

RRM
HRA available with drug plan

railroadm1933
 

(Also posted on IBMretiree)

I just got off the phone with E-Health and was told that buying a drug
plan through E-Health qualifies same as medical plan as basis for HRA. I
was told that this is a change from IBM last week. This is good news for
many of us because the only medical plans they offered in my state were
Humana and AARP and AARP is not on Advantage plans. I consider AARP a
political organization, I do not belong to it, and would not join as a
prerequisite to coverage. My doctor group that I have used for the last
30 years is not in the Humana network and will not accept them as
insurer. On the Humana website they do not come up in the doctor search
and my wife's doctors group is not taking new Medicare patients and is
not on the Humana site either. This frees me up to probably get our
policies from BCBS.

I asked the E-Health rep to get an email and/or a web-site posting to
verify this information stressing to her that we normally believe only
that which we get in writing.

RRM
Great blog about IBM Medicare options/issues

 

Here's a great Blog about IBM Medicare options/issues.

http://ibmmedicare.blogspot.com
To all those who are under 65 but Medicare qualified.

 

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I received a flyer in the mail from Anthem BlueCross BlueShied [Colorado]. This mailing was specifically promoting Medicare Supplement Plan F. On the back of the mailing is the statement: “All Medicare Supplement plans are offered to Medicare qualified individuals under the age of 65.”

ERISA Applies To The IBM HRA

 

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The IBM Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) is an employee [retiree] welfare benefit plan [health plan] and, as such, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act – ERISA applies.

Below are applicable sections of ERISA, from the DOL website, with highlights added.

Employee Retirement Income Security Act — ERISA

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established pension and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans.
ERISA requires plans to provide participants with including important information about plan features and funding; provides for those who manage and control plan assets; requires plans to establish a grievance and appeals process for participants to get benefits from their plans; and gives participants the right to sue for benefits and breaches of fiduciary duty.
There have been a number of amendments to ERISA, expanding the protections available to health benefit plan participants and beneficiaries. One important amendment, the , provides some workers and their families with the right to continue their health coverage for a limited time after certain events, such as the loss of a job. Another amendment to ERISA is the which provides important new protections for working Americans and their families who have preexisting medical conditions or might otherwise suffer discrimination in health coverage based on factors that relate to an individual's health. Other important amendments include the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act, the Mental Health Parity Act, and the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act.
In general, ERISA does not cover group health plans established or maintained by governmental entities, churches for their employees, or plans which are maintained solely to comply with applicable workers compensation, unemployment, or disability laws. ERISA also does not cover plans maintained outside the United States primarily for the benefit of nonresident aliens or unfunded excess benefit plans.
?

Plan Information

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) requires plan administrators — the people who run plans — to give plan participants in writing the most important facts they need to know about their retirement and health benefit plans including plan rules, financial information, and documents on the operation and management of the plan. Some of these facts must be provided to participants regularly and automatically by the plan administrator. Others are available upon request, free-of-charge or for copying fees. The request should be made in writing.
One of the most important documents participants are entitled to receive automatically when becoming a participant of an ERISA-covered retirement or health benefit plan or a beneficiary receiving benefits under such a plan, is a summary of the plan, called the summary plan description or SPD. The plan administrator is legally obligated to provide to participants, free of charge, the SPD. The summary plan description is an important document that tells participants what the plan provides and how it operates. It provides information on when an employee can begin to participate in the plan, how service and benefits are calculated, when benefits becomes vested, when and in what form benefits are paid, and how to file a claim for benefits. If a plan is changed, participants must be informed, either through a revised summary plan description, or in a separate document, called a summary of material modifications, which also must be given to participants free of charge.
In addition to the summary plan description, the plan administrator must automatically give participants each year a copy of the plan's summary annual report. This is a summary of the annual financial report that most plans must file with the Department of Labor. These reports are filed on government forms called the Form 5500. The summary annual report is available at no cost. To learn more about the plan assets, participants may ask the plan administrator for a copy of the annual report in its entirety.
If participants are unable to get the summary plan description, the summary annual report or the annual report from the plan administrator, they may be able to obtain a copy by writing to the U.S. Department of Labor, EBSA, Public Disclosure Room, Room N-1513, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210, for a nominal copying charge. Participants should provide their name, address and phone number to enable EBSA to contact them to follow up on the request.

Fiduciary Responsibilities

The protects your plan's assets by requiring that those persons or entities who exercise discretionary control or authority over plan management or plan assets, have discretionary authority or responsibility for the administration of a plan, or provide investment advice to a plan for compensation or have any authority or responsibility to do so are subject to fiduciary responsibilities. Plan fiduciaries include, for example, plan trustees, plan administrators, and members of a plan's investment committee.
The primary responsibility of fiduciaries is to run the plan solely in the interest of participants and beneficiaries and for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits and paying plan expenses. Fiduciaries must act prudently and must diversify the plan's investments in order to minimize the risk of large losses. In addition, they must follow the terms of plan documents to the extent that the plan terms are consistent with ERISA. They also must avoid conflicts of interest. In other words, they may not engage in transactions on behalf of the plan that benefit parties related to the plan, such as other fiduciaries, services providers, or the plan sponsor.
Fiduciaries who do not follow these principles of conduct may be personally liable to restore any losses to the plan, or to restore any profits made through improper use of plan assets. Courts may take whatever action is appropriate against fiduciaries who breach their duties under ERISA including their removal.
Re: [IBM Pension] EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

 

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I did not call Extendhealth, but I was wondering if anyone asked the exact replacement for the Aetna Plan we all had last year. It seems the medigap Blue Cross PLAN F looks like the replacement coverage?


On Oct 7, 2013, at 12:44 AM, <retired_engineer@...> wrote:

?

Talked to both EH and Fidelity. Nobody could help. People tried but they really don't know who is supposed to do what or when they are going to do it. Their advice was to wait and see. They think it might be until November but they really have no clue. Without a HRA, there is no reason for me to use EH. The website gives me more information and options.?

To: ibmpensionissues@...
From: ken.kraw@...
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2013 21:28:14 -0700
Subject: [ibmpensionissues] RE: RE: [IBM Pension] Re: EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

?

?Were you able to get ahold of someone and get the tab added and the HRA funds to show??


---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote:

My profile has been 100% completed for some time and I have had an appointment with ExtendHealth also for some time. But, when I sign into My Account I can not find a "Funds and Claims" tag. The link provided by clk_griswo?ld (below) worked! However, when I got there and signed in I got the message: "There are no known funding arrangements. If you feel this is incorrect please contact us".

So everyone needs to check their HRA and if there is no "Funds and Claims" tag use the link below.
From: no_reply@...
To: ibmpension@...
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 11:49:47 -0700
Subject: [IBM Pension] Re: EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

?

https://



---In ibmpension@..., <ibmpension@...> wrote:

Looked all over my EH Account site and can not find a "Funds and Claims" tab? ? ??
Re: [IBM Pension] EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

 

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Talked to both EH and Fidelity. Nobody could help. People tried but they really don't know who is supposed to do what or when they are going to do it. Their advice was to wait and see. They think it might be until November but they really have no clue. Without a HRA, there is no reason for me to use EH. The medicare.gov website gives me more information and options.?

To: ibmpensionissues@...
From: ken.kraw@...
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2013 21:28:14 -0700
Subject: [ibmpensionissues] RE: RE: [IBM Pension] Re: EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

?

?Were you able to get ahold of someone and get the tab added and the HRA funds to show??


---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote:

My profile has been 100% completed for some time and I have had an appointment with ExtendHealth also for some time. But, when I sign into My Account I can not find a "Funds and Claims" tag. The link provided by clk_griswo?ld (below) worked! However, when I got there and signed in I got the message: "There are no known funding arrangements. If you feel this is incorrect please contact us".

So everyone needs to check their HRA and if there is no "Funds and Claims" tag use the link below.
From: no_reply@...
To: ibmpension@...
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 11:49:47 -0700
Subject: [IBM Pension] Re: EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

?

https://www.extendhealth.com/my-account/funds-and-claims



---In ibmpension@..., <ibmpension@...> wrote:

Looked all over my EH Account site and can not find a "Funds and Claims" tab? ? ??
Re: [IBM Pension] EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

 

?Were you able to get ahold of someone and get the tab added and the HRA funds to show??
Re: [IBM Pension] EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

 

I also do not have the Funds and claims tab. I tried the link that was referenced and I did not get anywhere, & who How are to contact?

?
Re: Any one on LTD (already have medigap) having issues w EH? Under 65.

Sheila Beaudry
 

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For those who want more info on the company, the spelling is Cigna.

?

From: ibmpensionissues@... [mailto:ibmpensionissues@...] On Behalf Of larryrgeorge@...
Sent: Saturday, October 5, 2013 12:04 AM
To: ibmpensionissues@...
Subject: Re: [ibmpensionissues] RE: RE: Any one on LTD (already have medigap) having issues w EH? Under 65.

?

?

I'll tell you why the EH rep was pushing the Signa plan over the Kaiser one.? The EH rep gets a commission for Signa, but not for Kaiser.? Kaiser was late to the dance because they apparently put a lot of pressure on IBM, over the fact that they?were not a part of the original plan.? But they?have thousands of IBM retirees with them already, myself included.??So I have heard that?Kaiser is?not going to pay a commission to EH to keep the folks they already have.? But if the EH rep can move you to someone else, they get a commission.? Follow the money...?

?

From: dyskokyd@...
To: ibmpensionissues@...
Sent: Friday, October 4, 2013 1:27:55 PM
Subject: [ibmpensionissues] RE: RE: Any one on LTD (already have medigap) having issues w EH? Under 65.

?

?

I went to the Kaiser Permanente Open House (MD Suburban DC) for IBM Retirees on Medicare. I spoke with a retiree I'd not met before and we compared notes. He HAD his interview with EH and was left wit the impression they were pushing a plan from Signa. he did not think it was a bad plan, but when he asked about others felt the navigator redirected conversation back to Signa ...?just like I used to do as a sales rep. (My impression, not his.)



When you have the impression that something is being "pushed," it's typically because there is money on the table or a boss on your butt.



At least with IBM HR, I had the impression they did the research and offered an array of plans that respected the individual (Goodness) while controlling their costs. There was an element of trust even if they didn't get everything right.?



I'm not going into my appointment with EH with that level of trust. ?

?

?

---In ibmpensionissues@..., wrote:

?

Here's something I just heard yesterday from one of my old IBM friends who had his "Interview" with EH earlier in the day.??He did not want an HMO plan, but all of the plans they had on the website were far more expensive than what he has already.? So he told them that he might just as well go will who he is already with, since it is not a company represented by Extend Health.? Then the gal said, what about an AARP plan?? He said there aren't any AARP plans on the website.? She said, "Oh that's okay.? We represent them and we can set?you up with any company that we represent, even if it isn't on the website you are viewing.? What it amounts to, is if you don't go through them, they don't get the commission.? so they will wheel and deal if you tell them you don't like what you see available.?

?

?

---In ibmpensionissues@..., wrote:

?

I had my call today. ?I am on LTD and medicare and medigap f since 2/11. ?I was told by EH that I cannot sign up for their medigap option (120 more a month than I pay today) unless I drop my existing medigap. If I don't I will have to go to underwriting and will either be denied or given a higher price.?

?

If I am denied does that mean I have no options to use my subsidy? ?I had not read enough to realize that it had to be used for insurance first.?

?

This is a real cost hit to me because the part d pricing for my meds versus my 2013 ibm plan ?is going to add thousands to medical costs in the future.?

?

Any ideas?

?

?
Re: Any one on LTD (already have medigap) having issues w EH? Under 65.

 

I'll tell you why the EH rep was pushing the Signa plan over the Kaiser one.? The EH rep gets a commission for Signa, but not for Kaiser.? Kaiser was late to the dance because they apparently put a lot of pressure on IBM, over the fact that they?were not a part of the original plan.? But they?have thousands of IBM retirees with them already, myself included.??So I have heard that?Kaiser is?not going to pay a commission to EH to keep the folks they already have.? But if the EH rep can move you to someone else, they get a commission.? Follow the money...?

From: dyskokyd@...
To: ibmpensionissues@...
Sent: Friday, October 4, 2013 1:27:55 PM
Subject: [ibmpensionissues] RE: RE: Any one on LTD (already have medigap) having issues w EH? Under 65.

?

I went to the Kaiser Permanente Open House (MD Suburban DC) for IBM Retirees on Medicare. I spoke with a retiree I'd not met before and we compared notes. He HAD his interview with EH and was left wit the impression they were pushing a plan from Signa. he did not think it was a bad plan, but when he asked about others felt the navigator redirected conversation back to Signa ...?just like I used to do as a sales rep. (My impression, not his.)


When you have the impression that something is being "pushed," it's typically because there is money on the table or a boss on your butt.


At least with IBM HR, I had the impression they did the research and offered an array of plans that respected the individual (Goodness) while controlling their costs. There was an element of trust even if they didn't get everything right.?


I'm not going into my appointment with EH with that level of trust. ?



---In ibmpensionissues@..., wrote:

Here's something I just heard yesterday from one of my old IBM friends who had his "Interview" with EH earlier in the day.??He did not want an HMO plan, but all of the plans they had on the website were far more expensive than what he has already.? So he told them that he might just as well go will who he is already with, since it is not a company represented by Extend Health.? Then the gal said, what about an AARP plan?? He said there aren't any AARP plans on the website.? She said, "Oh that's okay.? We represent them and we can set?you up with any company that we represent, even if it isn't on the website you are viewing.? What it amounts to, is if you don't go through them, they don't get the commission.? so they will wheel and deal if you tell them you don't like what you see available.?



---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote:

I had my call today. ?I am on LTD and medicare and medigap f since 2/11. ?I was told by EH that I cannot sign up for their medigap option (120 more a month than I pay today) unless I drop my existing medigap. If I don't I will have to go to underwriting and will either be denied or given a higher price.?

If I am denied does that mean I have no options to use my subsidy? ?I had not read enough to realize that it had to be used for insurance first.?

This is a real cost hit to me because the part d pricing for my meds versus my 2013 ibm plan ?is going to add thousands to medical costs in the future.?

Any ideas?
Re: Any one on LTD (already have medigap) having issues w EH? Under 65.

 

I went to the Kaiser Permanente Open House (MD Suburban DC) for IBM Retirees on Medicare. I spoke with a retiree I'd not met before and we compared notes. He HAD his interview with EH and was left wit the impression they were pushing a plan from Signa. he did not think it was a bad plan, but when he asked about others felt the navigator redirected conversation back to Signa ...?just like I used to do as a sales rep. (My impression, not his.)


When you have the impression that something is being "pushed," it's typically because there is money on the table or a boss on your butt.


At least with IBM HR, I had the impression they did the research and offered an array of plans that respected the individual (Goodness) while controlling their costs. There was an element of trust even if they didn't get everything right.?


I'm not going into my appointment with EH with that level of trust. ?



---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote:

Here's something I just heard yesterday from one of my old IBM friends who had his "Interview" with EH earlier in the day.??He did not want an HMO plan, but all of the plans they had on the website were far more expensive than what he has already.? So he told them that he might just as well go will who he is already with, since it is not a company represented by Extend Health.? Then the gal said, what about an AARP plan?? He said there aren't any AARP plans on the website.? She said, "Oh that's okay.? We represent them and we can set?you up with any company that we represent, even if it isn't on the website you are viewing.? What it amounts to, is if you don't go through them, they don't get the commission.? so they will wheel and deal if you tell them you don't like what you see available.?

Re: Any one on LTD (already have medigap) having issues w EH? Under 65.

 

Here's something I just heard yesterday from one of my old IBM friends who had his "Interview" with EH earlier in the day.??He did not want an HMO plan, but all of the plans they had on the website were far more expensive than what he has already.? So he told them that he might just as well go will who he is already with, since it is not a company represented by Extend Health.? Then the gal said, what about an AARP plan?? He said there aren't any AARP plans on the website.? She said, "Oh that's okay.? We represent them and we can set?you up with any company that we represent, even if it isn't on the website you are viewing.? What it amounts to, is if you don't go through them, they don't get the commission.? so they will wheel and deal if you tell them you don't like what you see available.?

Any one on LTD (already have medigap) having issues w EH? Under 65.

 

I had my call today. ?I am on LTD and medicare and medigap f since 2/11. ?I was told by EH that I cannot sign up for their medigap option (120 more a month than I pay today) unless I drop my existing medigap. If I don't I will have to go to underwriting and will either be denied or given a higher price.?


If I am denied does that mean I have no options to use my subsidy? ?I had not read enough to realize that it had to be used for insurance first.?

This is a real cost hit to me because the part d pricing for my meds versus my 2013 ibm plan ?is going to add thousands to medical costs in the future.?

Any ideas?
Re: [IBM Retiree] [IBM Pension] HRA letter arrived and is it funny

flatsflyer
 

Sounds like maybe a Class Action Law Suit might be in order.?



---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote:

I am really curious about how the IRS would rule on the HRA's too. ?A Health Savings Account (HSA) is not taxed by the IRS and can be rolled over. ?I would like to know why the same rule does not apply to IBM's HRA, since it is also non-taxable income, set aside for us?


If this money is set aside for us on an individual basis, for us to distribute for medical expenses, I don't see how IBM can take away anything left in our account at year end. Has anyone here on this blog discussed this issue with anyone with the IRS? ?If not, then I think someone needs to. ?I have a good friend who is a CPA and I am going to ask him about it.?



---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote:

IRS says can rollover, so this is an IBM Plan rule.

To: ibmretiree@...
From: gfretwell@...
Date: Tue, 1 Oct 2013 10:50:43 -0400
Subject: Re: [IBM Retiree] RE: [IBM Pension] RE: HRA letter arrived and is it funny

?
Are the HRA rollover rules just IBM or is this an IRS rule

In a message dated 10/1/2013 7:53:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time, JustPutt2@... writes:




It's my guess that some Armonk Bean Counter said that, 'If we make them expire each year then we don't have to keep track of the on-going balances'.... Think of all the money we will save.? And there will be no long trail for the Auditors to track.
Re: [IBM Retiree] [IBM Pension] EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

 

开云体育

Retired between January 1, 1992 and January 1, 1997. with 25 years service. But why do you want need this information?

To: ibmretiree@...
From: no_reply@...
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 15:51:10 -0700
Subject: [IBM Retiree] RE: RE: [IBM Pension] Re: EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

?

Tell us when your retired, age, years of employment at IBM, etc.



---In ibmretiree@..., <ibmretiree@...> wrote:

My profile has been 100% completed for some time and I have had an appointment with ExtendHealth also for some time. But, when I sign into My Account I can not find a "Funds and Claims" tag. The link provided by clk_griswo?ld (below) worked! However, when I got there and signed in I got the message: "There are no known funding arrangements. If you feel this is incorrect please contact us".?
Re: [ibmretireeissues] [IBM Pension] EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

 

开云体育

As opposed to others, I will not want to make a financial and health care decision until I know if IBM is going to honor their commitment to fund a HRA (for $3,000 in my case). The only reason I am looking at ExtendHealth is because of the IBM funded HRA. Without the HRA, as I posted earlier, I think there is no advantage, and maybe even a disadvantage, of going through ExtendHealth for any of my health insurance needs.

To: ibmretireeissues@...
From: lastdino1@...
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 15:39:41 -0700
Subject: RE: RE: RE: [ibmretireeissues] RE: [IBM Pension] Re: EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

?

Sorry I didn't mean to imply that the money was there but only that you had an approved allocation. If there was nothing there then I would be concerned. But remember one day in the future it will be gone and not because you used it. ? ? ?Life is Great?


---In ibmretireeissues@..., <ibmretireeissues@...> wrote:

If you check more closely you will see it says you have an annual allotment of that amount and that the start date is Jan 2014. It's not a case of having it in your account today. Just sayin' . . .

Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPhone

From: lastdino1@... <lastdino1@...>;
To: <ibmretireeissues@...>;
Subject: RE: RE: [ibmretireeissues] RE: [IBM Pension] Re: EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA
Sent: Wed, Oct 2, 2013 9:22:35 PM

?
I would recommend you call and either get it corrected or find out why you were not included. I registered early last month and on Oct. 1st the account showed the $3000 subsidy. If it's not there you may have a problem. Get it fixed ASAP. ? ? Life is Great?


---In ibmretireeissues@..., <ibmretireeissues@...> wrote:

I'm guessing since your HRA won't be funded until January, it's just not available yet. Heck, some of the Humana plans don't even have data available yet since their sign up period starts on Oct 15, according to messages on their site. It will probably require a little more patience.

Duane

Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPhone

From: retired_engineer@... <retired_engineer@...>;
To: ibm_retiree <ibm_retiree@...>; ibmpension <ibmpension@...>; ibmpensionissues <ibmpensionissues@...>; ibmretiree <ibmretiree@...>; ibmretireeissues <ibmretireeissues@...>;
Subject: [ibmretireeissues] RE: [IBM Pension] Re: EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA
Sent: Wed, Oct 2, 2013 9:08:25 PM

?

My profile has been 100% completed for some time and I have had an appointment with ExtendHealth also for some time. But, when I sign into My Account I can not find a "Funds and Claims" tag. The link provided by clk_griswo?ld (below) worked! However, when I got there and signed in I got the message: "There are no known funding arrangements. If you feel this is incorrect please contact us".

So everyone needs to check their HRA and if there is no "Funds and Claims" tag use the link below.
From: no_reply@...
To: ibmpension@...
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 11:49:47 -0700
Subject: [IBM Pension] Re: EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

?

https://www.extendhealth.com/my-account/funds-and-claims



---In ibmpension@..., <ibmpension@...> wrote:

Looked all over my EH Account site and can not find a "Funds and Claims" tab? ? ??

Re: [IBM Pension] EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

 

开云体育

My profile has been 100% completed for some time and I have had an appointment with ExtendHealth also for some time. But, when I sign into My Account I can not find a "Funds and Claims" tag. The link provided by clk_griswo?ld (below) worked! However, when I got there and signed in I got the message: "There are no known funding arrangements. If you feel this is incorrect please contact us".

So everyone needs to check their HRA and if there is no "Funds and Claims" tag use the link below.
From: no_reply@...
To: ibmpension@...
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 11:49:47 -0700
Subject: [IBM Pension] Re: EH site up for Medicare Plans, others MIA

?

https://www.extendhealth.com/my-account/funds-and-claims



---In ibmpension@..., <ibmpension@...> wrote:

Looked all over my EH Account site and can not find a "Funds and Claims" tab? ? ??
Re: [IBM Pension] ExtendHealth Called me ? ? ?

 

I did not have that problem. I ignored the call from Extend Health and did everything online without a hitch. My "appointment" is October 14. By then, I should have prices and plans from my HMO, Kaiser Permanente, and for Medicare itself to use as comparisons.


My concern about IBM's conversion is my future, not the kick-off. I am a fortunate, healthy, 65 year-old who spends less than $200 per year on prescriptions. Health insurance isn't a big deal to me now. Monthly cost is my big determinate.


IBM is betting my future coverage on competitive factors of a universal marketplace just as I enter a phase when illness will be a bigger factor in my life. Scary thought when group plans are the devil I know.. ?



---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote:

Before I said "Register on line". Today I tried to register 6 TIMES!? Each time it said that the registration failed. Maybe the database thinks that I am dead?? Will wait couple of days and then try again. The prices and coverages they are offering are the same as (Humana in our case) announced in their booklet we just go in mail.




---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ileftibm@...> wrote:

"Schooled in Nigeria?"

Perhaps Extend Health has hired someone who was actually schooled in Nigeria . . . ?



---In ibmpensionissues@..., <don_m64015@...> wrote:

We were out of town for a couple of days this week, and when we returned there was a message on the phone from some "representative" of ExtendHealth asking for us to sign up. ?The person leaving this message was either schooled in "Ebonics", or learned his English in Nigeria. ?Needless to say, it appears that the scammers are already starting to target IBM retirees, and we need to be extra careful about giving out any personal information over the phone. ??



---In ibmpensionissues@..., <starykozel@...> wrote:

You can do everything on the web... no need to talk to anybody



---In ibmpensionissues@..., <ibmpensionissues@...> wrote:

This DOES pose some interesting questions. ?In the past, we have been able to make choices via a https secured website. Now, we are being asked to make a phone call...trusting that the person on the other end of the line Really Does work for ExtendHealth. ?In all likelihood, that person is probably some "contract" person, working from their home, and entering our data as we give it. ?THAT leaves a lot of room for potential Identity Theft. ?Then, if this company has outsourced some of its callers to places like India, and the person we get barely speaks good English, it Really raises some suspicions. ?


Personally, I think I will Not be rushing into this thing....it might be better to wait until several other people have accessed this exchange, and hopefully posted their comments and opinions about what kind of service they received, and what they thought about the exchange representative. ? ?



---In ibmpensionissues@..., <retired_engineer@...> wrote:

1-855-359-7380 is the telephone number contained in the ExtendHealth Getting Started booklet that IBM sent me.

From: LOPATKA@...
To: ibmpension@...
Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 11:30:30 -0400
Subject: [IBM Pension] ExtendHealth Called me ? ? ?

?
Someone "puporting" to represent ExtendHealth called ME
a little while ago . . . and was almost unintelligible.

Being suspicious I asked to call them back & was given the
number 1-855-359-7380. I called that number & asked the
person answering the phone to "prove" they represented
Extend Health "before" I would give them any personal
information to "verify".? They gave me platitudes
about ExtendHealth - so I simply told them that I would
contact them when I was ready as instructed in the
mailing we received.? I was then informed it might take
2-3 hours if I waited any lomger . . .

I don't know if the call was legitimate or what a caller
would have to do to prove they actually represented
ExtendHealth.


<Alan Lopatka>
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