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now that northern trust is trustee of the pension, we no longer get monthly statements on payments. in fact we get zero from either ibm or northern trust. am i missing something?

Recent switch from Fidelity to Prudential annuity did not include the $24.80 Med B supplement. Any other pre-1990 retirees suffer the same fate? Any recourse?

I'm leaving the UHC Advantage plan at the end of this year. I've spent my FHA funds as fast as I could and have just a little left. How much should I leave in there to be significant to preserve the privilege of returning to the IBM medical plans in the future? If returning would ever make sense for some reason, just thinking to keeping that option open. I have $104 left in there now, and could easily submit another $50 in reimbursement claims. With just a little digging through on-line billing receipts I could even drain it completely to just pocket change above zero dollars. Or have I already spent it too low and should just claim it all? What's the group consensus on what to leave in the FHA knowing I may never want to come back, but "just in case" to preserve the option?

I must be overlooking some link someplace but how do I get out of UHC completely and back to original Medicare B. I see how to CHANGE to a different Advantage Plan C but not how to drop out of Advantage plans entirely. Thanks

https://www.pionline.com/courts/ibm-pension-plan-lawsuit-thrown-out-over-missed-deadline

Jeff Sommer dedicated his weekly Sunday Business Section "Strategies" article to the changed IBM pension plans yesterday, 11 February 2024. Hopefully this link works for you, if not, there's always your local library! https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/09/business/ibm-pension-plan.html?unlocked_article_code=1.U00.ylH_.ZmIJ0meU9UQg&smid=url-share - Andrew

https://thecapitolist.com/sarasota-memorial-hospital-unitedhealthcare-at-impasse-over-contract-negotiations/ UHC wrote to me, warning that my health provider will go out of network in 2024. They said, in part "Your plan will cover care from Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) as an out-of-network provider, if they are a Medicare-approved provider and accept the plan. Your share of the cost will be the same as if they were part of the network." Sound comforting? Not so. The devil is in the details. SMH told me they will NOT accept UHC in 2024 - not even out-of-network. So I must change all my doctors next year, or return to an Aetna Advantage plan (which IS accepted by SMH), and lose the IBM subsidy. I wonder if anyone knows exactly how out-of-network with same copay even works with UHC. Without a contracted rate, how much would the provider bill UHC? Their full rate? I find it hard to believe that UHC would swallow the difference between full rate and Medicare "usual & customary" (less my copay).

How do you find your FHA balance on the Fidelity website? Previously I was able to locate my FHA account on Fidelity, but I have either forgotten how to get there or it has moved. I just turned sixty-five so I don't know if that affects anything or not. I'm still employed (not at IBM) so I have not started using my FHA to buy any Medicare supplement plans from UHA. Thanks

IBM is hosting a Virtual Stockholder Meeting on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 10:00 AM, Eastern Time. Here is a link to it: http://virtualshareholdermeeting.com/IBM2023

I retired last year and started Medicare - I didn't know anything about an IBM Medicare plan, so I got the AARP United Health Care Supplemental insurance. I was told when I retired, that I could get COBRA for my husband(he is 5 years younger than me), for 1.8 years, then use the VIA benefits to get his insurance until he was Medicare eligible. I just called and found out that unless I "switch" to the IBM united Health care advantage plan(none of the advantage plans are accepted in this area) I can't access those funds for any reason???? Really???? does anyone know if there's anything I could do? Looks like they just swiped a bout 40000 away from me. Mary

I received a bill from UHC for $131.50 for the first month of the 2023 C plan. How do I get that paid from my FHA balance? I've not received anything from IBM about procedures after ViaBenefits goes away. My FHA balance has enough left to cover that and the Medicare premium for a couple years. The remaining FHA balance was the entire reason I switched plans.

For those of you that haven’t seen this & are interested in the signing the petition. My spouse & I both had issues getting our Optum debit cards & had to shell out our own $ in Jan. Folks w/FHA accts seem to be worse off since their premiums are billed in advance ? https://www.theregister.com/2023/02/09/ibm_heath_benefits_plan_transition/

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@...

The URL in the brochure that was sent as part of our information packet is “webex.com”. Then click on the “Join a Meeting” button. I don’t have such a button. That webex.com URL lands me on a marketing page – nothing to do with joining a meeting. Anybody know what’s going on?

Will the SHAP program continue in 2023 and beyond?

I received a letter from IBM today, announcing this change, like most of you will/have. More details will be forthcoming. Here's a quote from the letter I received: ==================================================================================================== "It’s your choice – consider your alternatives now! 1. Transition to the new Group Medicare Advantage plan options, which are designed exclusively for IBM retiree benefit participants eligible for Medicare. There are two options under the IBM retiree medical plan – the Enhanced Plan and the Essential Plan. Keep in mind that the IBM subsidy is only available when you enroll in one of the new UnitedHealthcare plan options. OR 2. Remain enrolled in the coverage you have today. If you would like to remain enrolled in your current plans, including those through Via Benefits, you can do so. Please be aware that, if you choose to remain in your current plans, you will no longer be eligible for IBM’s subsidy while enrolled there." ==================================================================================================== Note that it says: IF YOU CHOOSE TO REMAIN IN YOUR CURRENT PLANS, YOU WILL NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE FOR IBM’S SUBSIDY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So IBM has negotiated a, one size fits all deal with UHC, for all of us that were receiving up to $3K a year, in medical reimbursements. I called UHC to try and get a bit more detail. Julia said that they expected more information would be be available on their (UHC) website by the end of this month. Personally, I would be much happier receiving a flat $1,500 a year check for medical expense coverage, rather than being herded into special IBM Medicare Advantage program that is subject to change each year. :-(

Was a huge uproar in Dover today https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/2022/09/20/delaware-medicare-advantage-plan-to-start-in-2023-despite-concerns/69503839007/

https://www.pionline.com/pension-risk-transfer/ibm-offloads-16-billion-pension-liabilities-annuity-purchases

IBM Transfers a Portion of U.S. Pension Obligations | IBM Looks like IBM is transferring the "RISK" on their pension obligations to outside insurance. After these changes is the pension (the old defined benefit plan) still covered by PBCG? Also does this move give IBM access to any surplus funding? Based on this notice I calculate there is/was 40 billion dollars in the pension fund. A 12% surplus would be $4.8 billion. Did this transfer give IBM access to this money?