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

 

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

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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