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Employer Coverage GONE

James
Heathcare Status: Medi-Care

I retired in 2001 after 41 years with a car manufacturer. In late 2006, all non-represented retirees enrolled in Medicare were advised that our company-provided supplemental Health, along with our Dental and Vision coverage, was being cancelled effective 1/1/2007, and in its place we would be provided with a Health Retirement Account from which we could draw funds to pay for premiums and any out-of-pocket medical expenses not paid for by insurance.

The amount of this fund was set for the year 2007 at $1750 for a single party and $3500 for a couple. We were "free" to buy whatever level of coverage we wanted but by their calculations most retirees would have enough in this account to cover their expenses for the year. I do not consider my wife and I to be "heavy users" of medical services yet we had over $6000 of out-of-pocket medical expenses, including premiums, over and above the money provided by the HRA.

Submitted on January 10, 2008 - 3:46pm.
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