GE Retiree Benefit Solutions Facebook Feed
# **VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:**
**We have been working diligently to Finalize our Group Healthcare Plan offering to all Retirees/Dependents. ** **Never did we expect the process**, mainly Finalizing our Due Diligence process and with the help of our Attorney, Finalizing all the Legal Documents that are required... **to take this long?!?! Due Diligence and Legalities had us "returning to the table" many times!**
**Previously, we made the mistake of making Announcements before the process was complete and then had to postpone. **
**We apologize for those delays **and are very near to Announcing the details of the Plan. All will be explained at that time, with specific details, a new website, and enrollment and rollout dates.
**We thank you for your patience**, as we worked through this sometimes tedious and frustrating process.
**We are "shooting for"** open enrollment, the formal announcement, specific detailed marketing, and a new website by year's end, with an actual "live" date of January 1, 2022.
## **Stay Tuned it is happening!**
Thanks everyone for all the hard work you have put into this group.
A new insurance plan
So I wonder if Via would work with this plan?
Or are we getting ge insurance back?
This may be a stupid question, but maybe there are others like me who have concerns and no understanding. Can someone please explain to me what this is about? Is it good for retirees or not? Should I feel good about it or should I be worried? Thank you for any clarification you can give.
By all does that include under 65 that need a individual insurance plan NOT MEDICARE as we are not old enough yet ?
Following 👍
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Can't wait Ins. Is so high
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Will this insurance be available through VIA Benefits or will we lose our $1000 each if we enroll in this policy?
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Terrific news! Thanks for the hard work and the update!
Thanks for the update, John! I appreciate your hard work!
Will this be for all GE retirees I’m from evendale Ohio
# **Social Security Announces 5.9% COLA Increase!**
**This increase is Good, But Seniors Need a Permanent Boost!**
The federal government announced today that Social Security beneficiaries will receive a 5.9% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2022. That’s about $92 extra per month for the average beneficiary. According to USA Today, “the sharp increase is tied to a COVID-19-fueled spike in inflation after years of paltry consumer price increases.” The 5.9% COLA is the largest in nearly forty years.
Social Security cost-of-living increase will boost benefits 5.9% in 2022 as inflation spikes
www.usatoday.com
Social Security payments are set to rise 5.9% in 2022 for 68 million retirees, disabled people and others. That's the most since 1982.But we all realize that most of this will be spent in the increase in medicare pricing and prescription drug prices going up -the last increase I did manage to come out ahead $10 so that was $10 I did not have before the increase. 🙂
Thank you for your comments
This increase is eons overdue since the cost of living items not considered "necessary" are! When manufacturers pass on their higher costs of production, hike prices and reduce the sizes of what you get for your money-that's inflation! When interest rates go up on credit cards, loans of any kind, the banks do not fairly increase interest paid to us for savings, that's inflation! When the cost of materials used to produce products go down, I don't see manufacturers reduce the inflated price we pay or increase the amount of product in their packaging back to the amount it was, that's inflation!
Is there a Life Insurance you can get that doesn't require a physical that's reasonable?
GE had a life insurance when I retired back in 2000. It is still there in my profile.
AARP.new York life insurance doesn't require a physical
But they carefully check the medicines you take and will deny you if they find something they don’t like, noting reason for rejection as medication
Thank you 😊!
Need to get some recommendations on drug plans. I received a letter stating Cigna was replacing Express Script at high monthly rates. Best drug plan for the money. I have no special meds at all. Thanks
So glad you mentioned this...please post if you get a solution answer. What you said is very true.
Wellcare
I thought mine was good last year at 15.?? a year. But next year it’s 12.??. Most of my drugs are tear 1,2 and I get mail order 90 days for 0$
Went through VIA benefits.
Get your list of regular prescriptions. Go to the Medicare site and select the option to evaluate Plan D plans
Unless on expensive meds it actually cheaper without insurance. I have five tier 1 prescriptions and total cost is less than the cost of one month's premium.
Following
Best drug plan for the money: GoodRX
WellCare through Via. A rep will ask you your medication you are on, do be prepared. Ours are 14.60 a month. I have no meds. Hubby has 5 meds he gets through CVS, all are free at 90 days each. His Januvia he gets from Canada, at 90$ for 90 days. This drug normally would run 1700.00, WellCare came in at 450.00. So we needed to do some shopping. The Januvia from Canada is from Merk exactly the same company he had gotten it from when getting it through GE while I still worked.
As mentioned, use either the VIA site and/or Medicare site to evaluate plans. Plan costs vary depending upon your location and drugs, so what is good for me may not be appropriate for you. Good luck.
I switched to humana and it is the cheapest you can get thru VIA. I too don't have special meds.
We have silver script.
Little information. Cigna replacing Express Script and Cigna is automatically enrolling me into higher priced plan. That’s $50 per month more. Not me.
Wellcare
Get extra help on your medications. It is alot cheaper don't cost hardly nothing
Does anyone have any information regarding the wheelchair ramp program from Habitat from Humanity?
There is a Habitat for Safe Seniors in Texas. Are you from Texas? CASA in Alabama has a program. May be easier to find a program that operates in your state.
SAWs® is a nonprofit, volunteer organization founded in 2003. Originally started in Indianapolis, our organization serves clients across Indiana, as well as Arizona and Virginia. We specialize in building wooden wheelchair ramps for low-income, permanently disabled individuals. SAWs – Servants At Work – Building Freedom One Ramp at a Time www.sawsramps.org/
You might want to check with your local church’s. Our church has a group called carpenters for Christ that does them for people in need.
Has anyone received the 2022 Medicare for You booklet?
Yes
Received mine yesterday
Yes
Yes
Yep
Yes
Yes.
Yes
Yes
Yes last week!
Yes
Yes
Yes
You can download it from Medicare website
Yes
Yes
Yes, last week.
Wish they would just give us updates to be added or amendments.
Yes. 2 weeks ago
Yes last week
Yes.
Yes
yes
Yes
Yes
Does VIA still provide assistance in supplemental plans after you have been retired for several years? (8 years)
If you are getting your supplements insurance from via I would say yes
If you don’t want to change anything do you have to call them thanks
If you don’t do anything, you will stay on the plan you are on unless they notify you, the supplement depends on what contact and when u retired. My personal advice would be to call either GE or VIA and get all your questions answered
yes....30 years. m
Yes they do
Let's welcome our new members:
Marilyn Simmons,
Tammy A Clark
Welcome Marilyn and Tammy
Hello everyone
Welcome 😊
Hi there
Welcome 😊
Welcome to the group
Welcome
welcome
Welcome 😊
Welcome
Glad you two joined our group! Welcome!!
Welcome
Welcome!
Hello and welcome
Welcome Marilyn and Tammy!!
Welcome to the group!
Welcome aboard!!
Welcome!
Welcome
Welcome to the group!
Hello and welcome
Welcome Marilyn and Tammy.
Welcome to the group
Open enrollment for GE Retirees healthcare starts next week. Has anyone received information yet about what the cost will be for retirees next year in 2022? They always seem to be late mailing the new rates. Would be nice to see what they are before we need to complete open enrollment.
I don't remember getting rates you usually have to call right each ins. is different.
Don’t they have a web site you can look at.
You do not have to decide on the date open enrollment starts. The information you seek will be available before you have to make your picks. 🤔
gehealthcarehub.com
They always wait so late, maybe they think it will be too late to change. You know they already know what they are.
I received the information from GE in the mail today so we are all set. Premium did not change but deductible amount and HRA amount changed some.
You really going to change now!!!
I know I saw a post stating that our GE discount vendor changed ... does anyone have a link to the new vendor please?
I would also like to know to thxs
Lifebalance discount program. Should be able to register through GEaddedbenefits.com
Thank you for the information
What discount vendor?
Is this for all GE retirees?
Thank you everyone!!! This is for discounts on all sorts of things like computers, cars, appliances, and more. What I found out is you need to go to ge.lifebalanceprogram.com and register directly through there.
Would like to share with other people in my area.
Is VIA Benefits not taking care of our insurance? Why has GE not let us know this?
urbanspacenyc[com]/union-square-holiday-management
bank america helps too
Is VIA taking care of supplemental insurance or someone else?
It saddens me to post that John Phelps brother, Butch Phelps passed away early this morning after a long illness.
John, on behalf of the members and the board of this group, our sincere condolences go to you and your family.
RIP Butch.
Thank you Connie Vick and Group!!
Prayers for John and his family for peace and comfort! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Prayers
Sorry for your loss John! Prayers to you and the entire family. 🙏🏻
Sending prayers for your family!
Prayers
Prayers for you and Family
Prayers
🙏🙏🙏🙏
🙏🏻🙏🏻
May he Rest in Eternal Peace
🙏🏻🙏🏻
🙏 🙏 for John and his family .
🙏🙏🙏
🙏🏼😢🙏🏼
Sending condolences to John Phelps on the loss of his brother today.
🙏🙏 prayers
our sympathy to you and your family. 🙁
Prayers for the family
Prayers
Prayers for the family
My condolences to John and all affected by his loss 🙏
🙏🙏🙏
Prayers 🙏🙏
🙏🏻🙏🏻
This is NOT a political post. This is a post asking anyone who is concerned about the proposal that would require financial institutions to report the inflow and outflows of personal business accounts to the IRS to contact your lawmakers. This is an infringement on OUR PRIVACY!
By the way, I got this link from my bank who is encouraging customers to sign this! They feel it is an infringement on our privacy!
PLEASE sign and share! I wonder if they will have their bank accounts infringed upon like they want to infringe on ours!!
I am shutting off commenting. If you feel this applies to you and you want to contact your lawmakers, please do so. If not, then scroll on by.
The 2 banks I use here are BOTH upset about this and THEY are the ones who are asking customers to do this.
IRS Overreach & Invasion of Financial Privacy
icba.quorum.us
IRS wants to require reporting of your bank account. That likely includes you.This is not something we want to happen. Anything over $600 will be reported. We can’t allow this to happen. If you take $600 out of your account, they would have to notify the irs. Then the irs would probably want to know what you spent it on. None of their business 🤬
Political in the sense that is coming from our govt but we don't need to get into a political debate about it. So YES anytime that WE feel it could negatively affect OUR interests/personal lives we do need to post something like this. If some are good with it simply don't sign. But it's good to make everyone aware of these things as it DOES affect all (or a good portion of all) of us.
The government doesn't have any right to know what we spend, deposit or pay out. It is an invasion of our privacy unless we are breaking a law. They get enough information from our tax forms, the census, our drivers I.D.s, birth certificates, school records and other legal documents.
This does affect all of us for if you receive a check deposit over $600 from retirement then the IRS will be asking who, what, when, where and why every month! Plus that gives them the right to do a search and seizure of of your bank accounts! this may also give them a chance to freeze your accounts, to where you cannot access any of your money! You all need to wake up and watch out for what’s inside this bill to what can affect your retirement and your wallet!
I've been watching the news about this & it's extremely disturbing. They take enough from us as it is! 😡 I signed.
Am in donut hole with Humana just paid 474.00 for one tier 3 and another commong next month the $1000 doesn't go far
At least we get $1,000. Many get nothing!
You could look at it that way half full versus half empty are you could remember what it was like before are you could be in management
The money pays for coverage not prescriptions.
You may see if drug manufacturer has a deal to cover some high end drugs Qualifying is sometimes pretty easy and you may get them free or at a very low price
1. Check local prices at GoodRX, not going through your insurance 2. Ask your Dr about lower cost alternatives 3. Evaluate all the Part D plans, on line, given your prescriptions, for 2022, before you renew. They change from year to year. 4. Ask you representatives in Washington, to work on this flaw in the Medicare program. 🤔
I get 1 of mine from YCDS,your canadian drug store.and good rx
I have one that is also $474 since I am in donut hole. Checked with manufacturer. Income is too high to qualify for their help. Cost with GoodRX is even more.
What is a donut hole
30 years ago when I had tons of GE insurance, I didn't hardly use any of it! today, when I have tons of medical needs, I hardly have any insurance for it!
What gets me is any Part D can drop coverage for a drug, or put it into a higher tier, at any time during the year. But, you are only allowed to change providers during certain time period.
That $1000 does not pay any for prescriptions
Can't keep wondering why we have such price differences and everything is so confusing. I think our (so-called) Representatives should do something to ease this drug situation.
See how confusing it is. q1medicare.com/PartD-PartDCoverageGapCalculator2021.php?utm_source=partd&utm_medium=jumplink&utm_...
Cannot log in to solutions site forgot password says a new one was sent but never received for 2 days
Call them, for help, resetting your PW.
Solutions site phone number is 518-328-8404
It might have gone into your “Junk” folder. I’ve thought I never received something and there it was in Junk!
I have a problem with anthem blue cross, Ge, a Haier company insurance! My wife is on a medication and the her local doctor upped the dosage from 20mg to 40mg a day. Her foot doctor said that this was ok for it was his ordered prescription for her in the first place but he could treat her at the time because of covid so our doctor did. Now CVS pharmacy won’t fill the prescription do to Anthem’s orders for it came from a different doctor, second thing is her original ordered prescription is now up for refill and CVS won’t fill it per the insurance orders because of the first ordeal! Since when did an insurance company can start practicing medicine, change medicine or deny medicine/medical treatment! Is this not Malpractice or Practicing without a license! I need help with Anthem to tell them not to mess with my wife’s medicine for she is needing it to stay out of the hospital!
Thanks Paul Rifner
I have a similar situation with my blood sugar meds. Dr ordered the meds directly to CVS/caremark who is very willing to fill it and send it to me BUT the insurance won’t agree to pay for it until THEY talk to the dr. One of the meds they finally agreed to cover for 3 years. I still haven’t received the second medication. I think any time the meds are expensive, Anthem drags their medical degrees out and dust them off. Unbelievable!
Your doctor can talk with the insurance company. Many times they reject for a cheaper drug.
I'm fighting with them to pay for my diabetes medication....its a real struggle 😪 good luck.
I am 63 years old now and if I go on social security will I lose my GE insurance and or pension?
No, neither. I lost my insurance when I became eligible for medicare. Month before I turned 65. Pension is yours, you never lose. That's assuming all states are the same?
Agree w Cindy’s comment. You can keep your GE insurance until you are eligible to Medicare. You will not lose your pension when you go on SS.
I think your GE insurance should last until you turn 65 and are eligible for Medicare. Your GE pension does not go away when you go on social security, but when you reach the age that you’re eligible for 80% social security you will lose the supplement (1000.00). That goes away whether you’re on social security or not.
No you keep your pension till you die
I am over 65 now but retired early. While I kept my GE health insurance (BCBS of Alabama) I found after a short time that BCBS were no longer paying any of my health care claims. When I questioned them I was informed that they were not a secondary insurer they were a “second primary insurer”. That means what they considered their job was to only pay the primary contractual amount of 80% which was usually within pennies of what Medicare paid. Medicaid was the first to be billed so BCBS had little or no impact on my medical bills. Now the interesting part you can still get dental and vision coverage till you are 65 but if you cancel your medical health care (because they are not paying squat) you are not eligible for those programs. My only solution was to contract with a private company (AARP) which became my tertiary insurer to pay my 20% bill balances. Crazy and sucks. I found all this out after getting large bills from medical tests that I had to pay from pocket. Hope I helped.
When you turn 65 and go on Medicare and your spouse is not 65 is she still covered under GE insurance till she does?
It is very odd but with all the communication GE sends out they never send you anything about your benefits ending. The month you turn 65 (or your spouse turns 65) they simply stop taking out the deduction for coverage. That’s it. No word, no heads up, it just stops period. In fact BCBS has continued to try act as my insurer processing claims (and still paying nothing and not being paid by anyone) a year and a half after I turned 65. I would guess GE never informed them either that coverage ended. It is comical and at times a nuisance. Good luck.
That's pretty standard though, too lose company covered insurance. You go on Medicare which covers 80 % and you have to get a supplement to cover the 20 % which I chose AARP but I pay $157.00 a month for my health insurance. I started out at $99.00 a month in 2016 and now it has gone up almost $60 a month and I'm sure it will continue to rise as time goes on so be prepared. It would be so nice to get a decent raise on our pension to help defer the insurance increase.
David Crouch, I retire from GE June 2020 @ 64 they took me off the medical insurance when I turn 65 but my husband is still on my medical insurance until he’s 65 he just turn 62. You will be able to keep your Pension I did. I’m on SS and like I said I got to keep my pension.
If you are on disability no supplement
THANKS EVERYONE!!!!
I retired in 1997, I was automatically signed up for Medicare (GE did this for me I assume) as I did nothing when I turned 65, I then took Anthem Advantage (0 premium) for payment that Medicare does not pay ((the 20%), very happy with it. as for supplement, i did retire early therefore got a supplement until I turned 62, then that cut off as I believe that is the age when I could have gotten 80% of SS. GE cut that off on my birthday that year. This was all spelled out to me when I retired and i knew what was happening. Maybe I was luckier that others. Hope this helps someone.
GE no longer gives total Insurance. I have to pay at least 6 months of mine. They no longer pay for retiree insurance fully as was promised. I have full retirement with GE and I pay over half of my yearly insurance.
You will keep your GE insurance until you are 65 and get Medicare.
Why not simply ask your GE HR Manager, for benefits information, specific to your situation, that you can bank on? FB info is not always 100%. 😄
Does anyone know a phone number to change our bank accounts? Someone bought our bank and they’re charging account numbers.
Benefits.ge.com, can change on-line
My credit union did that a few months ago. Go online and update the routing and account numbers.
Sometimes the bank will electronically transfer that information in a file
Thanks for the info!
That’s why I went with Ge credit union and Medicare and Cigna. Have Benifits coordinator Al Koenig
Ge single sign on
# **Reported Today in The Guardian: Stat of the day: 19% of older US adults reported using their savings during pandemic.**
**VERY INTERESTING--Isn't it??**
**Older Americans are more likely to have suffered pandemic-related economic difficulties compared with their peers in other wealthy countries**, according to a survey from the Commonwealth Fund. In a survey of people aged 65 or older in 11 of the world’s wealthiest nations, 19% of US citizens reported using up all or most of their savings or losing sources of income during the pandemic – the highest percentage of any country. **The percentage is nearly seven times higher than in Germany, where 3% of older people reported economic difficulties.**
I do not understand this as seniors were eligible to get the stimulus checks. . .so what is different from before covid? It is getting harder for me to watch any news as at times it does not seem to be telling the truth.
I think some of that might be from helping their adult children.
Most don’t receive a pension like most GE retirees. It doesn’t cover everything but sure is nice getting that guaranteed amount every month.
AMEN!!
So. True
There are a lot people out there who can’t wait for we old people to drop dead. l have heard some on tv say it.
I know this one its ME
Us older people had different lives, especially during WWII. Things were not as complicated as they are now. Good meant good, bad meant bad and very little in between. Now something seen as good is "bad" and good things are not appreciated as they used to be.
It also is many older people who are keeping younger generations afloat.
Hope this finds healthy and safe.
Attached is the General Electric Retirees Association October & November Newsletter. Enjoy.