开云体育Both my wife and I are IBM retirees.? My wife is retired because she took the FAP and deferred the payments as a retirement package.? I am a classic retiree.? I retired in October 1994 with 33 years of service.? I retired then because of announced changes to IBM Benefits starting 1995. ? She recently received three letters and two brochures dated September 2022 concerning retirement changes for 2023… and IBM benefits changes for Medicare eligible retirees ? I received nothing from IBM.? I have been reading all these forum’s postings. I am really confused. ? Was I supposed to get info?? As a classic retiree, am I in a different group as far IBM is concerned.?? I see a lot of people refer to calling an un information telephone number.? Who are they calling?...? Via Benefits, Fidelity or IBM. ? I saw some say that there is an October 10th mailing coming.? ? Any advice would be appreciated. ? Brian Sanborn 236 Longley Rd Groton, MA 01450 978-448-2651 bpsanborn43@... ? |
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I received no further information other than the letter from IBM.
On Monday, October 10, 2022 at 05:30:22 PM EDT, Brian Sanborn <bpsanborn43@...> wrote:
Both my wife and I are IBM retirees.? My wife is retired because she took the FAP and deferred the payments as a retirement package.? I am a classic retiree.? I retired in October 1994 with 33 years of service.? I retired then because of announced changes to IBM Benefits starting 1995. ? She recently received three letters and two brochures dated September 2022 concerning retirement changes for 2023… and IBM benefits changes for Medicare eligible retirees ? I received nothing from IBM.? I have been reading all these forum’s postings. I am really confused. ? Was I supposed to get info?? As a classic retiree, am I in a different group as far IBM is concerned.?? I see a lot of people refer to calling an un information telephone number.? Who are they calling?...? Via Benefits, Fidelity or IBM. ? I saw some say that there is an October 10th mailing coming.? ? Any advice would be appreciated. ? Brian Sanborn 236 Longley Rd Groton, MA 01450 978-448-2651 bpsanborn43@... ? |
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I received my first and only correspondence, about the new Medicare Advantage program, on Sept 16th. Under its "What's Ahead" section on the second page in the "By Mail" section it said: "you will receive additional information by mail beginning in late September from IBM and UnitedHealthCare with plan details and information about what you need to do to enroll."
I have not received this mailing. I called today and asked when I could expect it, and the person I spoke with was unable to give me an estimated time of arrival. I also asked how much the plans would cost me, and he was able to provide me with that information. ------------------ My best guess, is that the mailing that began in late September, will be superfluous for me. I suspect the "Plan Guide" pdf, provided on the website, provides all of that information, and perhaps more. |
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I haven't received anything more either, and really need to know what the procedure will be to file claims (such as the Medicare B premium reimbursement) against the FHA converted to HRA balance once ViaBenefits is out if the picture.? I see nothing explaining the reimbursement plan in the UHC documentation.? Have I missed it somewhere else?
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I received my Medicare advantage info yesterday. I did not get the pension annuity letter. I need to call that IBM retiree info number to confirm:
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If I did get a letter about converting my pension to an annuity... then the current pension arrangements will continue. Thanks guys Brian -----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of hdttraveler@... via groups.io Sent: October 14, 2022 3:14 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ibmpension] Really Confused about these IBM changes I received my first and only correspondence, about the new Medicare Advantage program, on Sept 16th. Under its "What's Ahead" section on the second page in the "By Mail" section it said: "you will receive additional information by mail beginning in late September from IBM and UnitedHealthCare with plan details and information about what you need to do to enroll." I have not received this mailing. I called today and asked when I could expect it, and the person I spoke with was unable to give me an estimated time of arrival. I also asked how much the plans would cost me, and he was able to provide me with that information. ------------------ My best guess, is that the mailing that began in late September, will be superfluous for me. I suspect the "Plan Guide" pdf, provided on the website, provides all of that information, and perhaps more. |
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Wondering how this ended up for you & your spouse Brian? My husband & I are both retirees as well (w/71 yrs of combined service). When IBM settled the pension class action in the 90’s, he had 25 yrs so was grandfathered under the prior pension plan & HC benefits while I only had 20 yrs so got the prior pension plan but an FHA instead. I’m retired on LTD (for 1 more yr until they move me to retirement benefits) & he retired in 2019. Now, all these yrs later, we’re both being held hostage by IBM to buy the HC Cov ‘they want’ vs what ‘we need’ & in the yrs we need it most, or we’re both screwed out of our HC subsidies (his 3k/yr which is now 2,778 & my FHA $). A double whammy for IBM retiree couples like us. I don’t see how it’s legal for IBM to change our retirement benefits after the fact, especially given the terms & conditions of the pension class action settlement. And now I’m left wondering if I’ll get another surprise when they trigger my pension next yr ? Thoughts anyone??? |
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That $2778? includes the one-time $1200. As soon as that is used, that $3000 becomes $1578, until the government raises the monthly SS Medicare deduction again. IBM has screwed the retirees with this in many ways. For those of us who were getting the $3000/3500 and selecting one of the VIA plans took a hit. I had an Aetna PPO plan that is nearly identical to the UHC plan - the difference being IBM has a "Group" plan that "supposedly" allows one to go to any doctor in the country that accepts Medicare where the Aetna plan provides for any doctor within my locality that accepts Medicare. Aetna does (and corresponding plans do) allow for emergency treatment if traveling. For most people, that is probably sufficient. That Aetna plan had $0 monthly premium plus the $30 reduction in the monthly government SS/Medicare "premium". So aside from the one-time $1200, that annual $1300 (or, in your case, $1578) is a considerable drop from the $3000/$3500. While going through the annual "Medicare and You" book, other companies had similar $0 monthly premium plans. Please note -? I am only addressing the Medicare Advantage plans as that is what the UHC plans are and what I have had from Medicare for years.
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JoeRoth