UAW Benefits Report
June 2005
We have had over 350 UAW Members retire.
CONGRATULATIONS
TO ALL OF YOU!
PLEASE REMEMBER THE CUT OFF DATE FOR SIGNING IN PLANT
PERSONNEL FOR ONE OF THE ATTRITION PACKAGE INCENTIVES IS
JUNE 13, 2005
SUBPAY
Problems with members on lay off have already begun. For
pay period ending May 28, 2005 a total of 123 laid off members were
incorrectly paid Holiday and short work week pay. Monies were retracted and
SUBenefit checks are being mailed this week.
A NOTARY PUBLIC IS NOW AVAILABLE TO YOU IN THE BENEFITS
OFFICE. IF YOU NEED A DOCUMENT NOTARIZED PLEASE SEE HOLLY.
Pensions Improved – Pensions have been increased for
all who retire under the 2003 contract. The new 30-and-Out benefits will be
increased a total of $70 for workers who retire before their Social Security
80 percent date during the October 1, 2004 to September 1, 2005 time frame.
This will increase the 30-and-out benefit
from the current $2805 to $2875 per month beginning
October 1, 2004.
The problems with Fidelity Benefit Administration are so
severe that it has become a subject on the national news. General Motors and
Fidelity are doing a lot of finger pointing leaving our members and retirees
suffering in the middle.
Your UAW Local Benefits Representatives are aggressively
pushing the International Union and General Motors for resolutions to our
issues at the Corporate and International levels. We are addressing each
member’s problem on an individual, case-by-case basis. If you have a problem
with your benefits, please DO NOT assume it will eventually work itself out,
immediately contact your Benefits Representative.
A third party – The Work Number, now
handles wage and Employment verification for General Motors. Call
1-800-367-5690 and enter the GM employer code 11429 and your social security
number. You may also go to the website @ www.theworknumber.com. The cost for
this service is $12.00 for verification of employment and $15.00 for
verification of income. This cost is payable by credit card only.
The documents that are needed for retirement are: Birth
Certificate, Social Security Card, Marriage Certificate, Medicare Card, and
spouses Birth Certificate, Social Security Card and Medicare Card (if
applicable). If you are planning to retire and do not have the requested
documents please keep in mind the Department of Vital Records usually takes
3 weeks to send you one after receiving your application. The Division of
Vital Records of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issues
certified copies of birth, death, fetal death, and marriage certificates for
events that occur in Maryland. The Division also provides divorce
verifications.
You may apply online at http://mdpublichealth.org/vsa/html/apps.html
; by fax at 410-358-7381; by telephone at 410-764-3170 or in person at the
Department of Vital Records located at 6550 Reisterstown Road, Reisterstown
Road Plaza, Baltimore, MD 21215.
Social Security cards may be obtained by calling
1-800-772-1213, visiting the Social Security website at www.ssa.gov, or by
visiting your local Social Security office.
Hearing Aid - If you are in need of a hearing aid you
MUST use a participating provider in order to receive ANY
benefits. Please contact your insurance carrier or a Benefits Representative
for a participating provider listing and the five steps you must take.
Health Care - In order for you to receive the highest
level of benefits under the Traditional Care Network you must use an
in-network provider.
Please protect your loved ones…update your Beneficiary
today!
Please be aware that under our National Agreement we do
not have coverage for Physical Therapy that is performed by a CHIROPRACTOR.
All Physical Therapy claims received by UHC for services rendered by a
chiropractor will be denied. A Participating licensed Physical Therapist
must render physical therapy. For Physical Therapy we have coverage for up
to 60 visits per calendar year per condition by a participating provider.
Durable Medical Equipment – As a reminder to those
with Diabetes; Glucose monitors, lancets, and test strips are covered
(subject to Medicare/GM guidelines). You may obtain them at no cost to you
only at participating Northwood NPN providers. Northwood NPN may be
contacted at 1-800-936-9314.
If you are a member who is in need of any Durable Medical
Supply please contact either Northwood at the above number or your Benefits
Representative to ensure you use a participating provider. You are
sanctioned if you do not use a participating provider.
Vision –Check with Cole Managed Vision at
1-800-638-0166 or your Benefits Representative for providers near you. A
provider listing may be obtained at the Cole Managed Vision website at
www.colemanagedvision.com Group #80140.
Please be aware that The Wilmer Eye Institute DOES NOT
participate with Cole Managed Vision for eye exams. You are encouraged to
use an in network provider in order to receive the highest level of benefits
entitled to you.
Bills where the provider or doctor is submitting claims
and lab work with ROUTINE or SCREENING as the diagnosis or no diagnosis at
all will be denied. Claims and lab work must be submitted with a MEDICAL
DIAGNOSIS, by the Doctor, which justifies the test before it will be
considered for coverage.
Under our National Agreement we are allowed one (1) PAP,
PSA, and Mammograms per year, these tests may be submitted with the
screening diagnosis. UAW International Bargaining Committee successfully
negotiated the addition of the following screenings which will go into
effect July 1, 2004 for Traditional Care Network enrollees, when a Network
provider provides such services: One fecal occult blood test per year,
beginning at age 50; one flexible sigmoidoscopy exam, or one barium enema,
every 5 years, or one colonoscopy every 10 years, beginning at age 50 and
one total serum cholesterol with low density lipoprotein test every 5 years
beginning at age 20. These tests may be submitted with the routine or
screening diagnosis.
Delta Dental – Your Benefits Representatives encourage
you to ask for a predetermination from Delta Dental through your
participating provider for any services which cost is estimated to go above
$200.00. A Predetermination letter will be mailed to both you and the
provider showing patient responsibility for services rendered. Our
contract allows for a maximum payment of $1,700 per person total per year
and a lifetime orthodontic maximum of $2,000.
You are encouraged to register at http://www.deltadental.com/
you may view claims online, search for dentists, download claim forms and
this site has lots of information pertaining to oral health.
Prescription drugs –Please be aware that you have the
same ability to get almost any prescription drug by mail order. The savings
and ability to get a 90-day supply for $5.00 (up from $2.00 effective
1/1/05) without going to the drug store every month is a great incentive
to begin using the mail order program. As a reminder, refills should be
called in when you have 14-21 days worth of medication left to ensure
you receive your medication in time. If you have ordered mail order
prescriptions and are about to run out due to a shipping problem please
contact a Benefits Representative immediately. Please continue to use
participating pharmacies for short-term prescriptions that you need right
away (ex. Antibiotics, newly prescribed drugs) The Medco Health website is
www.medcohealth.com
Life Insurance – Beneficiary changes are not taken
over the phone. To make a beneficiary change call the benefit center at
1-800-489-4646 to request a beneficiary form. Once completed the form must
be returned to the benefit center in the provided pre-addressed envelope.
You may also go online to www.gmbenefits.com to update beneficiary
information.
The phone number through Fidelity, for pension,
retirement, health care benefits, life insurance, sickness & accident,
EDB,
workers compensation, SUBplan, service awards, wage verification, and your
Personal Savings Plan is 1-800-489-GMGM (4646).
Your Benefits Representatives encourage you to create a
Personal Identification Number (PIN) with Fidelity. This will be the only
way you can contact the GM Benefit Service Center.
To create a pin online follow the below instructions:
§ Go to gmbenefits.com
§ Click on active hourly
§ Select a benefit area (e.g., Savings & Retirement,
Health & Insurance)
§ Enter your Social Security number
§ Enter your date of birth and zip code
§
The system will ask you if you would like to
use your Social Security number for a login or you can establish a Customer
ID-an identifier you can create in place of your Social Security number for
logging on to the site
§ Once validated, you will be asked to establish your 6
to 12 digit PIN
If you do not have Internet service you may set up your
Personal Identification Number by phone:
§ Call the GM Benefits & Services Center at
1-800-489-4646
§ Enter your Social Security number or Customer ID when
prompted
§ Enter your date of birth. Then you will be prompted
to enter your zip code
§ Once validated, you will be asked to establish your 6
to 12 digit PIN. You will be asked to enter your PIN twice for confirmation
§
To protect your PIN in case you forget it, you
will be asked to set
up a security question. You may select from one of these five
questions:
o
The first name of your best friend from high
school
o
The name of your favorite restaurant
o
The name of your first pet
o
The model of your first car
o The name of the
street where you grew up
If you would like to have the Report emailed to you
monthly or have a general question about your Benefits that you would like
answered in a future Report please email Holly at local239benefitsreport@hotmail.com.
This is a great way for us to know which areas of our Benefit Plan we need
to highlight in our Report. Please note that individual issues will not be
addressed by Electronic Mail, only general questions will be accepted.
A NOTARY PUBLIC IS NOW AVAILABLE TO YOU IN THE BENEFITS
OFFICE. IF YOU NEED A DOCUMENT NOTARIZED PLEASE SEE HOLLY.
Questions received as of 5/10/2005:
Where will the Benefits Department be after May 13th
2005?
The Benefits Department will remain in the plant for some
time. At some time, we are unsure of when, the Benefits Office will move to
a facility within 5 miles of the plant. If at any time you are unable to
contact us at the plant you may call the Union Hall at 410-276-8789 to
inquire as to the location change. Please remember that your Union has a
website, www.uawlocal239.com, that has a benefits section that is updated
monthly. Any changes will be posted at this site.
Can we still contribute to the PSP once we are placed on
layoff status?
No, contributions through payroll deduction will cease and
any other contributions to the PSP are not allowed while on lay off status.
If you are in the JOBS Bank contributions through payroll
deduction will continue as previously requested.
How will I repay the loan I took against my PSP?
While on layoff loans can be repaid directly by you via
check to Fidelity. Laid off UAW members also have the option of requesting a
repayment waiver of up to 12 months from Fidelity. Please be aware that if
you want this waiver YOU MUST CALL AND REQUEST IT. The number for Fidelity
is 1-800-489-4646.
If I have a medical bill that was not processed correctly,
where will I send it?
Medical bills may be sent to the hall, attention Truck &
Bus Benefits at: UAW Local 239, 1010 South Oldham Street, Baltimore, MD
21224. Please contact us at the time to inquire about
other options.
How does having a second job affect my SUBenefit?
80% of any earnings from a second job will be deducted
from your SUBenefit.
I do not understand about the "Social Security Age Creep"
can you explain it to me?
2003 UAW-GM agreement provides that the supplement or
temporary benefit to be paid monthly, if eligible, in addition to the basic
benefit if born in years 1941 – September 14, 1945 until the month prior to
the month in which you will be eligible for Social Security benefit of 80%.
This means that if you were born in these years your supplement will not
stop at 62 and 1 month but continue until your Social Security 80% date.
Future contracts will hopefully be negotiated for later years.
You can look at your birth year on the following chart and
see what your Social Security 80% date is.
BIRTH YEAR AGE AT 80%
1937 62
1938 62 / 2 MONTHS
1939 62 / 4 MONTHS
1940 62 / 6 MONTHS
1941 62 / 8 MONTHS
1942 62 / 10 MONTHS
1943-1954 63 YEARS
If you were born in 1941 – September 14, 1945 and wish to
start Social Security when your supplement ends it is important to apply for
Social Security benefits to commence no later than one month prior to
reaching the 80% Social Security date to prevent a one month gap between
your GM supplement ending and your Social Security beginning.
Under the 2003 UAW-GM agreement it is possible for those
born in 1941 – September 14, 1945 to receive both reduced Social Security
benefits at or after age 62 and the General Motors early retirement
supplement. You must decide when you will apply for Social Security.
Your local Social Security office can help with this
decision and should be contacted at least 3 months prior to starting your
Social Security.
Fraternally,
Holly Brightbill-Stinebaugh
Stewart (Pep) Silva
Jerry Johns
Danny Spath