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Friday, June 10, 2016
Greater HRA
UC retirees outside California get an HRA of $3,000 a year. LLNL retirees get only $2,450 a year. Note from moderator: what is HRA?
21 comments:
Anonymous
said...
HRA is Health Retirement Account.
The original poster is mistaking LLNL employees as being part of the UC community. We were really the red-headed stepchild and when the opportunity arose to dismiss us from the family, UC took it.
That is a bit unfair to say, when UC transferred funds from the UC retirement plan to the LLNS plan, they were more generous to LLNL than they were for LANL. But as far as retirement medical, well, we only thought we were UC employees.
But as far as retirement medical, well, we only thought we were UC employees.
June 10, 2016 at 10:14 AM
It only hurts until you hit 65, then all is well. I couldn't be happier with Medicare plus the Medicare Supplement plan LANS offers. Be thankful you're not forced into Obamacare.
Medicare Advantage Plans (part D) cost $200 or more, so the $2450/per retiree and $2450/spouse just covers it. Retiree must pay the $120 to $180 or more for Parts A and B and again as much for the spouse (per month). So not such a good deal compared the health benefits while working.
Note that Medicare Advantage plans are NOT the same as Medicare Supplement plans. Also, Medicare Advantage plans are NOT Medicare part D. You seem seriously misinformed. I have Medicare A & B, and the Supplement plan offered by LANS (which covers drugs), and my total cost per month is about $160 with no medical deductibles or copays, and the only out of pocket cost is drug copays.
LLNS/LLNL Retirement Office just told me that I would receive $2400/per retiree and $2400/spouse yearly for my "substantially equivalent in the aggregate" LLNS retirement medical coverage. So much for my UC Medical Retirement . . .
Medicare Advantage plans such as Kaiser's in Northern CA cover Part D. The $2450/year per retiree (and again per spouse) almost pays for it, but falls a few bucks short. Have a feeling CA plans are more expensive than New Mexico. Just wrote a check for $366.40 to cover the basic Medicare for the month for myself and wife. Not bad considering Obamacare qualified plans (by the tax code) would be >$1500/month for two people in their 60's, and would still be high deductible plans. LLNL and LANL health plans (with a low copay) are a great benefit by comparison. For retirees 65 or older, LLNL sends the $2450 to Kaiser on a monthly basis, who then sends it to Empyrean who then pays the Kaiser bill for the month. I've been told this seemingly screwed up method is required by Obamacare.
IMO, Medicare Advantage plans are a scam. Go for Medicare supplement - no copay or deductibles (covers all Medicare out-of-pocket expenses, and the one LANS offers covers drugs with small copays and costs $88 per month for a single. Most Medicare Advantage plans have very low or zero premiums but sock you with deductibles and copays.
From what I can tell so far, Kaiser's Medicare Advantage Plan for retirees 65 and older is identical to the Kaiser Group Plan that we had when we were employed by LLNL. Same everything. I would not call this one a scam. It just costs like $210/month and is coordinated with Medicare. CA is probably more expensive than NM since we have Silicon (Santa Clara) Valley influence on our high cost of living.
I will age out ot medical ins shortly, Lord willing.
Expected changes per mo. Family covrrage drops from ~830 to ~530. Medicare A+B ~240 Medicare D ~30 Medicare part A&B supplement ~160 plan K Medicare part D supplement ~30 LLNL HCRA reimbursement to retiree ~(206) per mo Vision unchanged Dental unchanged.
So after 3 hour telephone call with an Empyrean rep everything changed and everything remains the same I hope except Medicare or supplements cover ED Drugs at al.
HRA is "health reimbursement account". Used to reimburse retirees and/or spouses with health costs once they transition to Medicare. It's a good thing. Pays for most of any Medicare Advantage Plan. Depending on plan you might have money left over for other health related costs like glasses, medications,... Also, it can accumulate from year to year.
Medicare Advantage is a scam. The feds know it and are pushing big changes. Watch out. You are much safer and more secure in a Part B with a Medicare Supplement plan.
The LLNS contract required that LLNL retiree medical benefits be "substantially equivalent" to those of UC retirees. Reference page 57 of Part_II_Section_B-H_LLNL_Mod_591_cln. $2.450 is not "substantially equivalent" to $3,000.
21 comments:
HRA is Health Retirement Account.
The original poster is mistaking LLNL employees as being part of the UC community. We were really the red-headed stepchild and when the opportunity arose to dismiss us from the family, UC took it.
That is a bit unfair to say, when UC transferred funds from the UC retirement plan to the LLNS plan, they were more generous to LLNL than they were for LANL. But as far as retirement medical, well, we only thought we were UC employees.
But as far as retirement medical, well, we only thought we were UC employees.
June 10, 2016 at 10:14 AM
It only hurts until you hit 65, then all is well. I couldn't be happier with Medicare plus the Medicare Supplement plan LANS offers. Be thankful you're not forced into Obamacare.
Medicare Advantage Plans (part D) cost $200 or more, so the $2450/per retiree and $2450/spouse just covers it. Retiree must pay the $120 to $180 or more for Parts A and B and again as much for the spouse (per month). So not such a good deal compared the health benefits while working.
June 10, 2016 at 8:37 PM
Note that Medicare Advantage plans are NOT the same as Medicare Supplement plans. Also, Medicare Advantage plans are NOT Medicare part D. You seem seriously misinformed. I have Medicare A & B, and the Supplement plan offered by LANS (which covers drugs), and my total cost per month is about $160 with no medical deductibles or copays, and the only out of pocket cost is drug copays.
LLNS/LLNL Retirement Office just told me that I would receive $2400/per retiree and $2400/spouse yearly for my "substantially equivalent in the aggregate" LLNS retirement medical coverage. So much for my UC Medical Retirement . . .
Medicare Advantage plans such as Kaiser's in Northern CA cover Part D. The $2450/year per retiree (and again per spouse) almost pays for it, but falls a few bucks short. Have a feeling CA plans are more expensive than New Mexico. Just wrote a check for $366.40 to cover the basic Medicare for the month for myself and wife. Not bad considering Obamacare qualified plans (by the tax code) would be >$1500/month for two people in their 60's, and would still be high deductible plans. LLNL and LANL health plans (with a low copay) are a great benefit by comparison. For retirees 65 or older, LLNL sends the $2450 to Kaiser on a monthly basis, who then sends it to Empyrean who then pays the Kaiser bill for the month. I've been told this seemingly screwed up method is required by Obamacare.
IMO, Medicare Advantage plans are a scam. Go for Medicare supplement - no copay or deductibles (covers all Medicare out-of-pocket expenses, and the one LANS offers covers drugs with small copays and costs $88 per month for a single. Most Medicare Advantage plans have very low or zero premiums but sock you with deductibles and copays.
Also, no "network" - go to any doctor that accepts Medicare, no referrals.
From what I can tell so far, Kaiser's Medicare Advantage Plan for retirees 65 and older is identical to the Kaiser Group Plan that we had when we were employed by LLNL. Same everything. I would not call this one a scam. It just costs like $210/month and is coordinated with Medicare. CA is probably more expensive than NM since we have Silicon (Santa Clara) Valley influence on our high cost of living.
I will age out ot medical ins shortly, Lord willing.
Expected changes per mo.
Family covrrage drops from ~830 to ~530.
Medicare A+B ~240
Medicare D ~30
Medicare part A&B supplement ~160 plan K
Medicare part D supplement ~30
LLNL HCRA reimbursement to retiree ~(206) per mo
Vision unchanged
Dental unchanged.
So after 3 hour telephone call with an Empyrean rep everything changed and everything remains the same I hope except Medicare or supplements cover ED Drugs at al.
HRA is "health reimbursement account". Used to reimburse retirees and/or spouses with health costs once they transition to Medicare. It's a good thing. Pays for most of any Medicare Advantage Plan. Depending on plan you might have money left over for other health related costs like glasses, medications,... Also, it can accumulate from year to year.
Medicare Advantage is a scam. The feds know it and are pushing big changes. Watch out. You are much safer and more secure in a Part B with a Medicare Supplement plan.
The LLNS contract required that LLNL retiree medical benefits be "substantially equivalent" to those of UC retirees. Reference page 57 of Part_II_Section_B-H_LLNL_Mod_591_cln. $2.450 is not "substantially equivalent" to $3,000.
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