Region 8 GM/Delphi
Retiree Benefit Representative
Downsizing in the North American Automotive
Market has resulted in a number of local unions being dissolved
across the country. Unfortunately some of those local unions
are in Region 8. As a result, many of our retirees have lost
their local union benefit representative. Region Director Gary
Casteel has assigned Region 8 UAW Representative Skipper Rish
as Retiree Benefit Representative for GM/Delphi Retirees in
the region. Skipper works out of the Atlanta Office and can
be reached at 1-866-854-9756. If your local still has a benefit
representative check their first before contacting Skipper.
General information notices will be posted here
concerning GM/Delphi retiree information. If you are a GM/Delphi
Retiree in Region 8, check back often for the latest benefit information.
If you have a question concerning a personal benefit issue call
Skipper at 1-866-854-9756. For general information questions,
email Skipper by clicking here. skipperrish@att.net
GM Retiree Dependent Audit
As you should all know by now G.M.
is in the process of doing a dependent audit on your health
care. If you have any dependents the audit must be completed
with the proper documents mailed back by February 13, 2009.
Please read the information packet carefully and include the
documents that show your dependents are eligible to remain on
your coverage. You have a pin number on the upper right side
of the letter from G.M. If you need to call the eligibility
Audit Help Line you will need to give them this pin number.
Every person has a different pin number. The number to call
if you did not receive your package is 1-888-898-1101. If you
should have any questions please feel free to call me at 1-866-854-9756.
Thank You,
Skipper Rish
Region 8 Retiree Benefit Representative
2009 GM/Delphi Retiree Benefit Deductible
Starting January 1, 2009 the new deductible
for G.M. retirees will be $164.00 for single and $328.00 for
family. Please remember to try and stay in network. The in-network
coinsurance will remain at 10%. If anyone has any questions
please feel free to contact me at 1-866-854-9756. Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year to all of you and your families.
Fraternally,
Skipper Rish
Region 8 Retiree Benefit Representative
Dear Brothers and Sisters of Region 8,
I'm sure by now that you are all aware that as of February
1,2009 you have been switched to the General Motors health care.
You will be recieving your new cards within the next few weeks.
Your new Vision carrier will be Davis Vision, Dental is Delta
Dental. As always please try to go to a participating provider.
If anyone has any problems please call me at 1-866-854-9756.
You should have recieved a packet with phone numbers, deductibles,etc.
Fraternally,
Skipper Rish
Beneficiary Info
Recently there have been some problems
after some of our retirees had passed away. Their surviving
spouses or children who thought that they were the beneficiaries
of record found out that they were not. I encourage everyone
to make sure that there beneficiary designations are current.
You can call Met Life at 1-888-543-3461 and request a new form
be mailed to you and the new form will superceed the old form.
Fill out the new form completly and mail it back to Met Life.
They will send you an updated confirmation that the form has
been received .
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The dependent audit being conducted by General Motors has been
extended to April 14, 2009. If any of you have not sent in your
documents required to keep your dependents on your insurance
please do so as soon as possible. Effective January 1, 2009
if you have a child who is a full time student that childs coverage
will cease the end of the calender year that they turn 24 years
old. Please remember that under the new agreement the child
must be a full time student.
Recently I have been notified that some of our surviving spouses
were receiving letters from Met Life about dependent life insurance
that was confusing to them. If you recently had a spouse that
died and had dependent life insurance coverage, you the surviving
spouse have a right to keep that coverage should you want to
continue paying the premiums. If you have a death it needs to
be reported to Met Life at 1-888-543-3461. If you have any questions
please call me at 1-866-245-5957.
Skipper Rish
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As I had stated in a previous article everyone that is a Delphi
retiree was switched to the G.M. Benefits package. In case you
have not recieved your new cards yet this information will help
you in case you need to go to a doctor or get prescriptions.
Your member I.D. is your social security number. Your group
number is GM 00118. If your doctor needs to verify that you
do have coverage with Blue Cross they can call the Benefit Service
Center at 1-800-489-4646 ask for the Health and Insurance department.
You can also call Blue Cross of Michigan at 1-800-482-2210.
If any of you run into any problems please contact me at 1-866-854-9756
or you can e-mail me at skipperrish@gm.com.
Fraternally,
Skipper Rish
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UAW and GM Reach Agreement on 2006-2008 MSR Retirements
The UAW is pleased to announce that General Motors has agreed to TOP up the pensions for all Delphi Retirees who received there letters from the PBGC.You will receive your checks June 14th, 2010. Our guys at Solidarity worked very hard with G.M. to get this done as soon as possible. We are greatful to all of them. I have tried to contact all of you that called me but if I missed any of you this e-mail will serve as the answer to your questions. .
Fraternally,
Skipper Rish
Region 8 Retiree Benefits Rep
GM Launches Retiree Website
The new GM Retiree Socrates website went live on May 3, 2010 with additional functionality and features not available for public viewing. This new website allows retiree’s access enhanced benefit information, announcements and notices, exclusive GM marketplace offers/discounts, club information, GM news and product information.
The new GM Retiree website is a secure site that is password protected. During the registration process, retirees will be asked to provide the last four digits of their social security number, zip code, birth, month, and birth date to confirm their identity as a GM retiree. In addition, they will be required to provide a valid email address so they can receive retiree eNews, as well as information on local GM events and activities. The new site is http:// www. gmretiree.com.
Thanks,
Skipper
Optional Life Insurance Holiday for GM Retirees
Hourly employees, retirees, and surviving spouses/same sex domestic partners enrolled in Optional Life and Dependent Life Insurance offered through the General Motors Life and Disability Benefits program for Hourly Employees will have their monthly contributions waived for two (2) months for Optional Life Insurance and eight (8) months for Dependent Life Insurance beginning May through December 2010.
Participants will not receive deductions and will not be required to make payments for the Optional Insurance for the months of May and June and for the Dependent Life coverage for the months of May through December 2010. Monthly contributions and payments will resume in July 2010 for Optional Insurance contributions and in January 2011 for Dependent Life. Those plan participants who currently pay their contributions in advance should send their personal checks or money orders for the amounts minus the premiums for the months that are waived.
SKIPPER RISH
SPECIAL ASSIGNED BENEFIT REP
REGION 8
GM Letter Concerning PBGC
General Motors has agreed to extend the deadline for COBRA sign up for the dental and vision under the Special Bankrupcy Provisions. The new deadline is now February 23, 2010. You will still have to call 1-800-489-4646 and ask to speak to the Health and Insurance department.
Fraternally,
Skipper
December 03, 2009
Update on Cobra Dental and Vision Plans for GM Retirees
GM Retiree Update December 02, 2009
The Lump Sum Payment for Eligible Retirees and Surviving Spouses will be paid on December 14, 2009. The Bonus is for eligible retirees and surviving spouses who retired prior to October 1, 2007. Eligible retirees will receive a payment that equals $23.3333 per year of GM and Delphi Credited Service, with a maximum payment of $700.00 or a minimun payment of $233.33. Eligible surviving spouses will receive 65% of that amount with a maximum payment of $455.00 and a minimum of $151.66.
Your new Insurance cards have started being mailed out and you should receive them by December 4, 2009. Do not start using these cards until January 1, 2010.
I would like to wish all of our retirees and their families a safe and Happy Holiday.
Fraternally,
Skipper Rish
Retiree Benefit Rep
Region 8
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I know that all of you are receiving letters from the P.B.G.C. and alot of you are confused about what to do. Please fill out the information and mail it back to the P.B.G.C. Keep a copy for your records. If you happen to also get a document about HCTC Tax Credit put that document aside for now. It dosen't apply to you at this time but could apply at a later time. All of the documents that you receive from the P.B.G.C. are legitmate documents.
Fraternally,
Skipper Rish
Special Assigned Benefit Representative
Region 8
If you have received your letter from the pension benefit guaranty corporation about the health coverage tax credit you do need to respond even if you think this dosen't apply to you.
Fraternally,
Skipper Rish
Region 8 benefit representative
June
1, 2009
GM
Retiree Changes in New Agreement
Blue Cross Cards
In the event that you did not receive
your Blue Cross cards yet you need to call 1-800-482-2210 and
listen to the promps and you can request new cards.
Also I'd like to explain how the procedure works for problems
such as bills,etc. If you have an active Benefits Representative
in your area you must go to them first for help. An exampe being
you are retired from the Saturn Plant or the Athens Plant you
still have active Benefit Reps that are there to assist you
with any problems. If they can't resolve the problem then you
contact me. This is coming directly from the International in
Detroit and also the Region 8 Director.
Fraternally,
Skipper Rish
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