We have had over 300 UAW Members retire.
CONGRATULATIONS
TO ALL OF YOU!

The benefits office would like to thank the majority of the membership for their patience and understanding during this hectic time in all of our lives.
We will continue to support Union members with all of their Benefit issues.

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 benefitfrom 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.comLife 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 schoolo The name of your favorite restauranto The name of your first peto The model of your first caro The name of the street where you grew upIf 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.
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.
Check out your Local Unions Website At: http://www.uawlocal239.com/. This site has a Benefits section with past newsletters and up to date Benefit information.Fraternally,

Holly Brightbill-Stinebaugh
Stewart (Pep) Silva

Jerry Johns

Danny Spath