Then they came for the non-union retirees.
Non-union Cat retirees get new health deal
Lump-sum payments will be dispersed each year for medical expenses
Non-union retirees from Caterpillar Inc. say they are concerned about changes coming in the way the company provides them with health coverage, or at least the means to get it.
On Jan. 1, Caterpillar will begin giving 9,000-plus non-union employees who retired on or after Feb. 1, 1991, and their spouses or surviving spouses lump sum annual payments from which they will pay for their own health needs.
And despite pages of information they've received in recent weeks from the company and informational meetings the company conducted at its various facilities nationwide, some of those retirees say their concerns were not allayed.
"I think it's only natural to be worried when we're told our health care coverage is going to change. Anybody would be concerned, especially when there is little you can do about it," said one man who didn't want his name used.
Another said he's not concerned about the immediate future because he and his wife are in good health. "But I don't know about down the road, whether the money the company gives out will be enough for those with a lot of health problems or who need a lot of prescription medicine. That's kind of scary, I guess."
According to information sent retirees, Caterpillar will enroll eligible retirees and spouses age 65 and older in Health Reimbursement Arrangement accounts that will be administered by Extend Health, a Utah-based health insurance brokerage. Retirees and/or spouses younger than 65 will continue to be covered under Caterpillar's group health plan, as before. That will end at age 65, when the person will be enrolled in an HRA.
Each year, on Jan. 1, the company will put benefit dollars - starting with $3,000 on Jan. 1, 2010 - into each person's HRA account.
It then will be up to the retiree and/or spouse to spend the money to meet their needs, be it for general health expenses, premiums for Medicare Part B or D, dental and vision insurance or other out-of-pocket expenses. Caterpillar had been paying for Part B before this.
Caterpillar said in a prepared statement that it first informed retirees back in March that changes would be coming.
"This change will be cost beneficial or cost neutral to the majority of the nearly 9,000 impacted participants. Under the new program, retirees will have greater choice regarding what they get for the money spent on health care.
"There are many ever-changing factors that we will be considering as we look to the future of Caterpillar health care benefits. As always, we remain committed to keeping our employees and retirees informed about their health care benefits," the company said.
Bridget Young, a Caterpillar spokeswoman, said the new program is intended to allow retirees to supplement Medicare. People become eligible for Medicare at age 65, but most want or need supplemental coverage.
"They are not required to enroll in a supplement through Extend Health, but they must do so to be eligible for an HRA," she said.
One woman who also did not want her name used said she's concerned about the stipulation that retirees will pay for their needs up front, submit a claim to Extend Health and then be reimbursed from their HRA account.
"What if I don't have the money to pay for all this up front? And what if $3,000 isn't enough? I think we need more answers," she said.
On the other hand, if the entire $3,000 is not used, it will roll over to the next year and will not affect future disbursements into the HRA, the company documents said.
Another retiree said he made calls to Extend Health and didn't feel that company was forthcoming with information. Some of what he heard, however, he termed "frightening," including on his questions about billing, reimbursements and the like.
"I walked out (of an informational meeting) feeling very discouraged and disgruntled. It seems to me a lot of those supplemental plans like Medicare Part B will eat up a lot of that $3,000," he said.
http://www.pjstar.com/business/x302142795/...new-health-deal
he is still skirting the question about illegal, undocumented, aliens and such. There is a regulation which forbids the questioning of anyone for documents 
- can't ask: "are you a citizen of the US?" 
So that is certainly making him out to be untruthful when he made his statement. 
