I called into UHC and I can't get a clear answer on the chart @ and I got the same answer twice, but not a full explanation?

It is the first two on the left column, "Retirees without survivor benefits" and "Retirees with survivor benefits"? What determines 'survivor benefits'? I thought when IBM offered $3,600 if you wanted Survivor benefits you'd only get $3,000 per year which is what I got? When I called I was told I'd get $1,200 one time credit. Of course, after about 15 minutes the phone went dead so I couldn't ask about the agents take on why I'd get $1,200.

So I called again a day later to get the rest of my questions answered and was again told I'd get $1,200 and my wife DOES have survivor rights and while I'd pay $0 for the Enhanced plan, she'd be charged $131.50? So wouldn't that make me a retiree with survivor benefit? If they have it wrong, I'd want that corrected before I sign-up.

Of course I'm not sure the phone agents have it all correct either. I mentioned the Vision Eyeglass limit and how would I go about using it? Was told the plan doesn't have that, we'd have to purchase that outside... and I told him I was looking at it on a PDF on the site. He said it was probably an error but he does have a chat feature to ask other 'experts'. Came back in a few minutes and said I was correct. Either the place will bill UHC or I'd have to pay and file for a reimbursement.

Didn't give me much confidence I did get the correct answer on the Initial credit or what the plan would cost me?

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I don't have a lot of confidence in the information on that link, and related ones either. I spent some time a few days ago checking to see whether my current providers are in-network. The good news is it looks like they are. The bad news is I accidentally found a doctor listed as in-network who hasn't practiced in three years. The problem with depending on providers to be in-network is they can quickly drop out of the network, and often without the patient knowing it.

I'll continue to research this, but I'm inclined to avoid Medicare Advantage policies. We already know that IBM doesn't care about their retirees. If they wanted to lower the $3000 subsidy, why not just do it, and leave everything else alone.

Hey Irv. I just read through the PDFs. My interpretation of the "Survivor Benefits" goes back to when you retired and chose the "leveling option" of taking reduced retirement benefit so the wife could get what percentage (default was 50%) of your retirement if you went before she did. So if you chose that option, which many of us did, per page 8 of the Educational Brochure, you would look at "row 2", "Retiree with Survivor Benefit". So if you took the "Enhance Plan", you would pay $27/mo. premium with no additional reimbursements like with VIA. If you took the Essential, you would have a $0/mo. premium and get an annual $1000 (probably use it or lose it) like VIA and a $25/mo. decrease in what the government takes out of your SS check for medicare. With either plan, your wife would not get anything, she could probably get the same plan, but they don't make that clear - it would not surprise me if she would have to sign up with her own plan either with UHC or some other company.? Per the Brochure "***IBM spouses/dependents are not eligible for funding, unless you are a surviving spouse of an IBM participant who elected survivor benefits.". So if you went before her, she would be eligible to participate if you took the leveling option when you retired.

Basically, IMO, IBM wasn't being up-front in saying this was better than what we had on VIA. On the VIA plan, you could get reimbursement on the monthly medicare deduction for SS for your wife and then file for the SHAP reimbursement for yourself. ? For those of who had the $3000/3500 Use it or lose it", it boils down to they lost most of it and its not clear that you might end up losing the SHAP for yourself if you get the monthly $25 reduction in your medicare deduction. Probably use SHAP for your wife's medicare deduction if you took the Essential plan with the $1000 + $300. The $1000 is probably use it or lose it and the $300 is the $25/mo SS medicare kickback. The links are:? ? , ?? ,??? and? ? .? I should have added these links will download the PDFs into your download folder. So you can read them at your liesure off-line.

My interpretation for the survivor rights was just for the part where the employee had to choose to give survivor rights to the spouse for the $3500/3000 HRA and those that gave survivor rights got a reduced HRA.? Since the HRA is now to subsidize the amount used for the IBM MA premium so that those who have the higher amount (didn't give survivor rights) have to pay $0 for the enhanced plan and those that gave survivor rights (and had a small HRA contribution) have to pay more.

On Wed, Oct 5, 2022 at 06:25 AM, Bob C. and sbbeaudry@ basically wrote the same thing:

My interpretation of the "Survivor Benefits" goes back to when you retired and chose the "leveling option" of taking reduced retirement benefit so the wife could get what percentage (default was 50%) of your retirement if you went before she did. So if you chose that option, which many of us did, per page 8 of the Educational Brochure, you would look at "row 2", "Retiree with Survivor Benefit". So if you took the "Enhance Plan", you would pay $27/mo. premium with no additional reimbursements like with VIA.

Exactly what I was drawing as the answer... Retired too late to get SHAP but did take the Leveling Option for Pension (retired after 38 years). So I'm thinking I would be on line 2 or the Enhanced Plan, $1000 one time and $27/mo. Wife gets no payment and $131.50/mo. However, on TWO calls I was told I'd get the first line, $1,200 one time and $0/mo.

I questioned that but was told they were correct. Suspect my data could be wrong? First time I tried again asking the agent about it and the line went dead. 2nd time it was confirmed that is what I would be getting?

I had read those links before, and again now.

Not interested in the Essential plan, only the Enhanced plan, so the yearly $'s are not a worry, it is me being put into the wrong line... due to data they have. So, what I also asked was since she is eligible for access and will pay for her $131.50 a month, after I pass, will her premium then drop to $82 and was told no, she would be locked in?

I don't understand this, and like both of you, I can't find that definition in writing and I too am guessing?

Is there anyone who took the Load Leveling Retirement and $3,000 Survivor election get a different answer than I did for Enhanced, that is pay $27 and only a $1,000 one time payment?

This is just my uninformed interpretation - "survivor" in this context would not be regarding Joint and Survivor pension option but rather after retirement when you opted for the reduction in annual HRA contribution to allow the spouse to continue to get an annual HRA contribution toward medical after you die.? I haven't dug into your specifics as I'm on a totally different line as I debate whether to "donate" my FHA balance to IBM or move from traditional Medicare to the enhanced plan C at 131.50/month (for who knows how it will stay at that rate).

More calls yesterday...

One to UHC contact line and was told all they do is look at the Database and use what is in there? I am listed as no Survivor and my wife is 'entitled' to get the MA. Was told to call who ever supplied the Database to them... and they suggested the Employee Benefits Center.

Called Fidelity, and they had no idea about United, and told me to call Via. The did confirm I was a retiree and that my wife is listed as with Survivor rights.... So the pushed me off and didn't even understand what United MA was about so transferred me to another Agency for MA's...some name I didn't know? Hung up and went to call Via.

No direct number, have to set up an appointment... so I think I'll just wait to see what happens when I actually sign-up. Person at I did speak to at UHC was willing to sign me up now.

I may just let it rude... I'm getting for Enhanced $0/mo. and wife $131.50 and $1,200. Maybe at some point someone might realize there was a mistake and want some money back?

Still, can not get a definition on what those 2 lines are and who they apply to?

Possible 'with' applies to someone who's on Medicare buy Spouse is not yet? 'Without' means no one not on Medicare already? Maybe when more web sites open up or US Mail comes in it might clear it up?