As I said in previous articles our benefits are constantly changing, we have to stay informed to receive the maximum benefits with the least out-of pocket expense. Members can do this by reading all mailings that is sent by General Motors or the International Union. If you have questions about material sent to you contact the appropriate party that sent the mailing or contact your Union Benefit Representative.

Effective July 1, 2007, Blue Cross Blue Shield will become the carrier for the Traditional Care Network. Coverage’s has not changed only the carrier has, routine medical office visits or office consultations still is not a covered benefit. When using a participating physician with the carrier under the plan you will owe only the contracted rate for that visit which in most case should be lower than what the physician is charging for that visit. If that charge is less than the contracted rate you will owe the lesser charge. More detailed communication regarding new ID cards, the process for transition of care will be forthcoming in the near future. As for prescription drugs the carrier remains the same Medco Health. Members should continue to use home delivery on any medications that they are taking 90 days or longer, even if that medication is not on the Maintenance Drug List, by doing this you will reduce your out-of-pocket expense. Durable Medical Equipment (glucose monitors, test strips, wheel chairs etc.) carrier remains Northwood/NPN members should only use providers that participate with that carrier. When a Medicare Primary enrollee uses a non-participating provider with Northwood/NPN the plan does not pay any balances after Medicare patient will be responsible for those balances. Mental Health and Substance Abuse is still through the Careline (Value Options and CIGNA). A member residing in Maryland still has two dental options Delta Dental or Athena DMO of Maryland. If you change dental carriers you have to stay in that plan for 12 months before you are eligible to make another change. Vision coverage is still with Cole Managed Vision.

Clinic Fee is a charge a hospital places on a patient for them to come to the hospital to see a physician or receive medical treatment. This is not a covered benefit under Traditional Care Network.

United Healthcare has agreed to pay these fees even though it is not a covered benefit under the plan. When United Healthcare took over the contract January 1, 2004 they stated to the Benefit Representatives at Local 239, plus the members attending the Retiree’s Meeting that month, that if you use a participating hospital the patient cannot be billed a clinic fee. Since United Healthcare misquoted this benefit and our members received services based on that information they will pay those claims, and only those claims.

Letters went out to members who turned in bills for these services, if you did not give a copy of the bill to a Union Benefit Representative and had paid or still receiving a bill from the provider for "Clinic Fee" please contact your Union Benefit Representative.

In the future this will not be paid by the carrier and will be the responsibility of the patient. Please be aware if you are seeing a physician in a hospital that physician will charge a fee for an outpatient office visit or office consultation, plus the hospital will charge a clinic fee which neither is covered under the plan.

Dependent Verification Project for hourly employees and retirees has ended. Members who did not call GM Benefit and Services Center (1-800-489-4646) had their dependents dropped from their health care effective May 1, 2007. You have till June 30, 2007 to contact the Health and Insurance department at GM Benefit and Services Center to reinstate any dependents that was dropped. Since Fidelity Investments took over administrating our benefits from Metropolitan Life the employee, retiree or surviving spouse has to call to make changes or verify dependents, through a recorded voice system. After June 30, 2007 members will have to supply documentation that supports that the dependent meets all requirements under the plan to be covered under the health care plan. To reinstate a spouse you will need to send in a copy of your marriage certificate and copy of spouse’s Social Security Card. To reinstate a dependent child you will need to send in a copy of the birth certificate showing you as the mother or father of that child, copy of child’s Social Security Card, proof of residency such as a letter from the school the child is attending stating that address on record is the same as yours, or a copy of a valid drivers license. You will also need to send in a copy of your Federal 1040 Form showing that you claimed that child as a dependent.

The waiver of contributions for Optional Life Insurance and Dependent Life Insurance is coming to an end. Active members will have contributions reinstated in their June paycheck (2^nd complete week of the month). Retirees will see the contributions reinstated in their July Pension Benefit.

Effective immediately after the close of business (4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on June 29, 2007 the following changes will be made to the Personal Savings Plan (PSP). The Plan’s Investment Options (Fund Line-Up) will be changed. Certain Funds that are currently available in the Plan will be removed from the Investment Options Fund Line-Up. New Investment Options will be added to the Plan. The Investment Options that are being removed from the Plan will no longer be available for participant’s contributions, loan repayments or exchanges. Participant Account Balances (as well as contributions and loan repayments) that are in the Investment Options that are being removed from the Plan will be mapped (transferred) to other available Investment Options, subject to the next sentence. Participants Account Balances that are in Investment Options that are being removed from the Plan that asses short-term trading fees or redemption fees will be mapped(transferred) to other available Investment Options after the relevant holding period expires. The Pyramis Strategic Balanced Investment option will become the default option for certain contributions and loan repayments for participants who have not designated other available Investment Options for these amounts. You should be aware and reminded that applicable short-term trading fees or redemption fees and excessive trading rules will continue to apply with respect to the available Investment Options under the Plan, both prior to and after the effective date of June 29, 2007. If you have any questions please contact GM Benefit and Services Center (1-800-489-4646) "Savings and Retirement" department.

During the Summer Shut Down GM Benefit and Services Center will be open Monday through Friday both weeks except for July 4^th. Members who have to go Sick Leave during that time should call GM Benefit and Services Center during the down time to report illness or accidental injury. When applying for disability benefits during this period applicable waiting period will apply. Personal Illness has a seven calendar day waiting period. Outpatient Surgery has a one calendar day waiting period. Accidental Injury or Inpatient Hospital stay waiting periods are waived and benefit starts day of the accident or when you become registered to a hospital bed.

Union Benefit Representative

GM Powertrain-Baltimore

Jim Streets

Eric Jackson (alternate)

10301 Philadelphia Road

White Marsh, MD 21162

Phone# (443) 425-1584

FAX# (443) 425-1468

With school coming to a close and members planning vacations can bring stress on the family. To help plan your vacation or check to see what activities are available for your children this summer you can contact Child Care/ Elder Care Resource and Referral Service at 1-888-733-3702 or by accessing their website www.workfamilyprogram.com (Company Name: uawgm, Password: helpnow). This program is only available to active members.