It's Official, a friend called & said it was announced on the UHC call. HRA (health reimbursement account) is "going away" for 2024. The only option will be the UHC AT&T Group Medicare Advantage (PPO) Plan. The annual HRA contribution will go away at the end of 2023. Details from AT&T will follow during 2023.
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I’m waiting for everyone to post comments here about refilling their prescriptions. You may be in for a shock as I was. One prescription with my previous AT&T Medical provider was $80 for 90 day supply. It’s now $385.00 for 90 days with UHC. So I no longer take this dr-g, there’s no generic. How can this be better plan for me? Can’t wait to see the prices for my spouse’s dr-gs for AFIB and heart failure. So paying $150.00 monthly premium for UHC and lost HRA of $4200. So out $6,000 and can’t afford prescription. We’re both retired AT&T managers with over 60 years service. What, they just couldn’t wait until we die?
It was really sad to see the HRA go away for 2024. I heard that it's a possibility that it will be back in February 2024, but that's a dream. We all worked so hard to build the phone company and this is the thanks us retirees get, the word is sc--wed. It shows you that the company is nothing but greed. What I read is that you take it or leave it and me, I'm going to leave it. I like my Aetna.
This all reminds me of the old Johnny Carson joke where his doctors name is Dr. Ben Dova.
At age 50, I took the buyout offered in 1995 and it was the best decision ever made. The life insurance stunk anyway being reduced each year. Being younger, the wife was only able to utilize the HRA for 1 year before the door slammed shut in 2024. We all worked very hard in the final days converting from analog to digital switching. And now? It's like being thrown to a Pakistan junk pile. We said HE-L NO to the stinking UHC and opted to continue with our existing Aetna plan. Best decision ever made.
AT&T has gains a new way to sc--w over their retirees. I’m loosing around $6000 dollars a year. Devastating!!!!!!
I’m paying $50/ month for UHC plus mainly because of dental. I’ll see if it’s worth it shortly. I’m upset like most of my fellow retirees with the ending of the HRA Medical which includes our Med part B reimbursement $135 a month. I called a few days ago to ask why it wasn’t direct deposited and she first said i’m entitled than after ai waited 20 mins she said no that’s gone too. I’ve called CWA and am keeping in touch. I mistakenly thought this was all bargained for but he said it was for future retirees!? Whaat? I wish we can do something because as we age my copays are crazy because of the lousy coverage.
I retied in 2007. The "plan" I accepted was the Change In Control (CIC) plan agreed to by SWBell and AT&T. A CIC is a Federally MANDATED program that stipulates the purchasing party (SWBell) provide for the displaced managers of the acquired company (AT&T) by providing them with an option to take the plan or not. I took it and part of that plan was YSA (Your Spending Account). I'm being told that it is ending! The CIC was an agreement and I signed it. The YSA was to be for life for myself and my wife. I have exhausted hours trying to find out what's going on re: The CIC package.
Hey, they have made such bad business decisions over the last decade they had to cut cost every way they could. Retirees are the easiest target. Wonder why the CWA is not involved, after all we struggled for our benefits for years.
I was hoping I would win the Lotto so I could take a portion of my winning and create an advertising campaign telling the world about how AT&T (sorry SBC) is the pitiful corporation they are. "Shame on you AT&T" < Look out for my new bumper sticker!
Retiree
Trying to figure this cr-p out. Just a thought: $600/yr to insure my wife, $4200/yr (HRA) give back, $600 each to add dental (only worth $750/yr), hearing not used (got VA), vision not worth anything amounts to $6000/yr or $500 / month for what the 2023 plan gave for $0. I guess they figure you get real stupid as you age.
AT&T is stabbing retirees in the back - again! First cut guaranteed life insurance now forcing people on United Healthcare Disadvantage.
They are requiring people to call UHC to keep real Medicare!!
UTC is making $BILLIONS by ripping off our Medicare system by denying coverage. If you take UHC and have a serious health concern, care could be denied and cost you your life. Why would ANYONE put a greedy insurance company between you and your Medicare benefits?
in lieu of discontinued HRA reimbursements for 2024, it would be nice to finally get an increase in pension that has been over due.
what about any of you who have spouses who are on the AT&T medical plan who are not yet Medicare eligible? if you don't take the Medicare plan the spouse has to find their own insurance. any thoughts or comments?
Yes.... The title of the mailing should be "YOUR BENEFITS EXPIRED"...... and by the way, anyone not opting out of the "AT&T/Aetna Medicare DISADVANTAGE Plan" is doing themselves an EXTREME dis-service. There are literally hundreds of Medicare Advantage Plans on the open market. If you want one, (and I don't), go to the open market and enroll in one. The ones on the open market are regulated more stringently that the co-branded corporate ones are.
AT&T is saving $2700 retiree and $1500 retiree spouse for a total of $4200 by moving retirees to AT&T Medicare Advantage. Unfortunately this plan is worthless health wise against Traditional Medicare plus Plan F Medicare Supplement plus Humana Walmart Plan D . Although it adds to HRA costs it is truly excellent healthcare. Question, what part of HRA not paid by AT&T is being used to pay UHC if any? Or is UHC paying AT&T for the retirees as a profit center..
The same old grinch. ATT doesn't help the long term retiree. UHC previously was the go to insurance company 15 years ago. Now in conjunction with Mother. my wife must now pay 50 a month for a program that I currently have, that charges 0 dollars. My wife's dependent life insurance was excluded years ago as well as mine from 50K to 15K. I think I will stay with my current advantage plus as they provide 650 bucks every 3 months for Incidentals and 0 dollars for tiers 1 thru 3 dr-gs. I see no advantage going thru ATT but I must give credit to them...I am back working for them deciphering all the paperwork just sent to me.
AT&T is probably making money off these programs. They are not really offering anything. Retirees are paying about $160 a month for medical with no dental, vision, or hearing coverage.
After ATT took away my life insurance that was given to me couple years ago, I knew this was coming. LIE CHEAT AND STILL… is ATT new moto..:.
I used to be proud to have worked for ATT now I’m embarrassed.
Take away my life insurance when I’m reaching old age is unbelievable….
The changes to the ATT HRA is , in my opinion, a morally bankrupt decision. I'm not surprised. ATT evolution as a company does not have many bright spots. I suspect someday to company will cease to exist. Good ridence.
I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE HRA. IT HELPED ME SO MUCH. 32 YEARS I WORKED 40 AND 50 HOURS. AND EVERY TIME I CALL ABOUT UNITED HEALTHCARE PPO THE THEY GIVE ME DIFFERENT ANSWERS.
Amazing that AT&T requires you opt out of the Medicare Disadvantage Plan or they will automatically override your Traditional Medicare and replace it with Medicare Disadvantage Plan. I guess AT&T and UHC don't realize that their action is illegal. You can't override a persons choice with an auto system. The retiree has to elect to change. Retiree can't be required to opt out, when they never opted in. Should be an interesting Retiree versus AT&T/UHC lawsuit
I just got the mailing. It should have been entitled "Your Benefits Expired" instead of "Your Benefits Inpired". Not only do you have to explicitly opt out of this AT&T/Aetna money making scheme, but if you do, based on what I read on page 8 of the mailing, AT&T will not permit you to enroll your dependents in AT&T sponsored health insurance. (My wife has 2 more years to go before Medicare). It seems to be all "stick" and no "carrot". I retired with the lump sum 5 years ago, and it looks like I'll be severing my last tie to AT&T at the end of 2023. Nothing AT&T has done in the last 20+ years is of any benefit to anyone but the C-Suite.
The medical plan for 2024 is not bad, UHC with no premiums. But what about dental/vision insurance? I guess you have to buy that coverage yourself.
I am staying away from all advantage plans, original Medicare is much better than any advantage plan, advantage plans are there to make money by providing you with less health care, don't ever think those plans are working for you, they must make a profit by cutting corners on your health care. They are a business, Medicare is not. If you go with ATT or any other plan, and don't like it, good luck going back to original Medicare.
So if you change it basically torpedos your ability to even get back onto a Medigap plan, cause you have to change to a Medicare Advantage, a cr-p UHC plan. Amazing worst corporation in the world. 40 years and they pull this on people with no recourse.
Change death benefit to reduce costs to ATT…. Check
Remove HRA for retirees 2024, increasing medical costs greatly to Kaiser ( and other) members, right when they are in need of more services, not less…. Check
Remove Health insurance all together in 5-6 years….. yep, likely to happen.
Leadership has truly gone downhill over the past decade. Those of us who gave 30, 40 and more years to build the company and earned certain benefits, are now left in retirement to go it alone.
Shame on ATT. Sad.
they have the lawyers and 7 ways till sunday to chew away any reason for staying at the cesspool.
Can Stankey and Santone do this and get away with it?
I received written notice from AT&T in the mail today, so written notice should be coming soon. Contributions will end in 2024, funds remaining in account can still be used going forward, no charge for the AT&T Med Advantage plan for 2024, $50 for spouse in 2024, to go down to $0 for spouse in 2025-2028.
They say there will be one plan. I wish they had two plans, a 2nd with higher out-of-pockets but with dental and vision.
So, for me, looks like I'm paying for dental, vision and Medicare part B come 2024. The $2700 HRA is $2400 medial and $300 dental.
The AT&T plan appears to be a $0 alternative for Medigap. They do say it is "company-subsidized".
Yes, at least for the next 5 years. At that time they will re-evaluate to determine if T will provide any healthcare options! Don't expect to have healthcare after 2028, just sayin.