Open Discussion
Post anything you feel like sharing here.
National Chrysler Retirement Organization
The NCRO was formed to preserve retiree benefits, improve communication, and foster fellowship among retirees.
BLOG.NCRO.ORG: Open Discussion
HRA (Health Care retirement Account)
Chrysler contribution $1860.00/year
65 years and older per person.
Are these contributions and the account in danger do to chapter 11 or Banckrupcy?
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Does anyone know when the court will release funds for disability pay?
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Hi Jim,
Did your last disability check bounce as mine did?
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Hi Jim,
Yes my disability check bounced 5/6/09, after I deposited it on 5/4/09. I called the Chrysler Service Center they told me it was due to the bankruptcy!! I understand they stopped comp., S & A, & sickness and accident as well.
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Take a look at this.
http://www.toledoonthemove.com/community/story.aspx?id=298329
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Thanks for the info.
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Yes. Health care is fair game to the execs focused on cutting cost during the reorganization. Their mentality is the more they cut, the bigger bonus they get.
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Can anyone tell me how much the New Chrysler will save with fewer dealers?
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University of Delaware Documentary
LEFT BEHIND: Chrysler Newark Assembly Plant: Past, Present and Future
http://www.udel.edu/global/documentary/leftbehind/Site/The_Documentary.html
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The Pension Plan Disability Benefit (PTD)component for retirees was not affected.
: LTD direct deposit / EFT payments were not affected. If for any reason you did not receive your April EFT, please contact your Sedgwick CMS Claims Examiner
: Paper checks were on Sedgwick CMS stock and S-CMS is whom the employees interface with.
: DD / EFT come a couple days before the end of the month, but checks are dated at month end.
: The paper checks dated 4/30 coincided w/ the bankruptcy filing.
: The vendor initiated the voiding of the checks
The LTD Plan was initially "frozen", until the bankruptcy attorneys instructed Chrysler to "unfreeze" them, which the attorneys did. However, the vendor acted on its own in voiding the paper checks dated as of the bankruptcy date. We regret any inconvenience this caused
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SSDC-Disability Services?? Did you receive this letter?
Regarding the letter dated 5/15/09 with enclosed questionnaire & survey from Chrysler addressed to: Health Care Beneficiary.
I'm reluctant to respond to this survey & questionnaire. It does not apply to me or my family members, since none of us are disabled. Also, it is none of their business what my spouse earns, etc.
I understand the premise; they are trying to divert people eligible for SSD benefits to reduce health care costs. It doesn't look like a "mandatory" survey, because within the letter it states "we would greatly appreciate a response from your household".
However, I can't help but feel that it somehow implies I'm refusing "something" if I don't respond, especially since they will send a 2nd request if a response is not received within 10 days.
Anyone else receive this? What are your thoughts? My husband said "throw it away, they already have all your info".
Thanks!
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HAS ANYONE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SPP PORTION OF THEIR 6/1/09 PENSION CHECK?
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I received a letter also. I called the phone number given in the body of the letter. I was told I could be put on a list so I don't receive additional letters for two years. The person on the phone assured me they were checking to see if we have become disabled since retirement. I had to lol because she also said to qualify for disability your pension had to be less then 900.00 per month. Who could live on 900.00 monthly? Hope this helps.
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Anyone receive the Iacobelli letter dated May 26 2009? It mentions Health Care programs and qualifird pentions. I don't get it. Why so vage?
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Thanks Mark. Perhaps I will call them. Two years eh? Seems to me they could save even more money by not sending them at all...
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Did anyone else receive in the U.S.Mail
a large white envelope from Chrysler
with 4 booklets inside ??
1- Salaried Emp's saving plan
2- Pension Plan
3- Sal/emp's retirement Plan
4- Health Care Program
Was this just to keep us infomed or did anybody see , there was something we had to sign and send back ?? I didnt see anything needed to be signed after I went thru the booklets ?? Thanks
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I recieved a call from my dentist on 6/10/2009 informing me that my dental and vision benefits will be dropped effective July 1, 2009. I'm 61 and my wife is 60. I thought the new Chrysler is picking up our health benefits? I consider dental and vision part of my health benefits, are these being covered or not?
Stan Surratt
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We were told today by the NCRO attorney that Chrysler non-union retirees will continue to have Dental and Vision. That is what the new Chrysler stated. There is always the chance that the new Chrysler will cancel dental and vision! But for now, they have not. Tell you dentist that the UAW gave up dental, not non-union. That is all we know at this time.
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I submitted a Company car Claim three weeks ago and havn't been reinmbursed. Is there a hold on Reimbursments for Company Car Claims?
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Dan,
Nobody knows what is going on with company car claims. If it helps, yours is not the first complaint we've received at the NCRO. We are trying very hard to open the lines of communication with the new Chrysler. If/when we hear anything, we will report it here and on the website. We also encourage all NCRO bloggers to let the rest of us know if/when you hear anything.
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Thanks for posting
Tim
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I am learning the process of turning your lease car in and purchasing a replacement.
I was told you pay the full month of your Chrysler lease, no matter what day you turn it in. You should go to our ordering system and down load a form, fill it out, and fax to 2 phone numbers....CoCars and Lapeer Road.
I faxed the forms and expect to turn the car in at the end of June,2009.
It would be nice if our NCRO would provide info on buying a car and how to turn one in.
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Go to the company cars online on the ordering system. There is a procedure for turning in lease cars. In the procedure it outlines what will happen. Briefly it states that retirees pay after usage. You will get credit for unused time. Example if you turn in your vehicle July 5, 2009 you will have deducted from your August pension 5 days of usage. But if you turn in your vehicle on July 20 you will miss the cut off date and will be charged for the whole month and then get reimbursed in September. Check it out. I can't remember the exact cut off date. I turned mine in the end of May and was charge for the whole month in June. I am expecting a reimbursement in July.
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Company Car-- I inquried about not getting a Reimbursement concerning a recent Claim. Co Car informs me that all Reimbursements are on hold due to the Bankruptcy. I thought that we were out of bankruptcy?
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The bargaining unit retirees will lose their dental and vision 7/1/09. NBU retirees will keep their coverage. Some dental offices jumped the gun.
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I understand that since the New Chrysler rolled over our Pension and Healthcare Benefits that the Heathcare benefits are guaranteed for only one year. Is that correct? If so what is the time frame.
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Did anyone else recently get a letter regarding 2006 Phantom Shares and the payout? I thought payments were complete in 2008 but my letter if I read it correctly suggested a payment was coming.
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Unions’ Health Benefits May Avoid Tax Under Proposal
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aDvu77pZr7k4
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I received a letter about the 206 PPSP payment also, but as of today (July 7), I have not seen any deposit or hard copy of the pay stub.
I agree that the payment is coming...I called Benefits Express to get a Chrysler phone number (248 512-2924) to call, but the phone keeps ringing...no answer. Maybe they are all on vacation yet! Keep in touch if you get a payment.
Thanks, Ken
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Chrysler to adjust salaried retiree premiums; Dental and vision plans to stay for now.
Chrysler officials told the NCRO in a conference call on Friday, July 10 that, as expected, changes will be made for health care premiums paid by some Chrysler salaried retirees, beginning August 1. Only those individuals whose annual gross pension benefit is more than $55,000 will be affected. Letters were mailed today to Chrysler salaried retirees / surviving spouses explaining the changes.
The letter mailed to Chrysler salaried retirees states that premiums will be calculated as a percent of gross pension benefit. The percentage that applies will be determined by each retiree’s current medical plan and coverage category.
According to Chrysler, 78% of salaried retirees will see no premium increase at all. Among those who will see premium increases, the average premium payout will be 3.3% of the gross pension benefit, but the cost will be dependent on the plan and coverage selected by the retiree. Details of the impact on each retiree will be personalized in the mailing.
The good news: Unlike General Motors salaried retirees, and UAW retirees, the dental and vision benefit plans for Chrysler salaried retirees will not be impacted at this time.
In other changes, several prescription drugs will no longer be covered, unless part of specified medical pre-conditions. The class of drugs used to treat conditions such as heartburn, acid reflux and ulcers are no longer covered, nor are drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Exceptions are limited, so check with Benefit Express at 1 888 409-3300 if you have questions. These changes are consistent with the alterations made in the UAW-retiree drug prescription program at the time of the Bankruptcy.
Chrysler outlined these changes in a conference call with NCRO President Chuck Austin and NCRO Communications Director Mike Aberlich.
http://www.ncro.org/#Prem
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I just received my revised Health care premium and it increased by 43%. My pension is $55,272. $272 over the 55K break point and I get this huge percentage increase? If my pension was $273 less I would not have received an increase at all.
I am very pleased that I still have health care but it seems that because of the chosen break point (55K) I am really taking the lions share of the increase. I have three questions,
1. Is there any recourse for a fairer distribution of the increase for the balance of the 2009 calendar year? 78% of the salaried employees did not receive an increase and my premium went up 43%??
2.Can NCRO have any affect on the way this is handled in the future (a fairer distribution of the increased premium cost), assuming we still have health care in 2010 and beyond?
3. Would you please find and publish a table showing % increases by medical plan by gross pension starting at the $55K level.
Thanks.
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Last Friday there was a posting concerning Chrysler LLC deciding whether or not to start paying out the Company Car Expense Reimbursements. Has anyone heard what was the result from Chrysler?
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Received following email today: "All claims for reimbursement are still on hold due to bankruptcy. We do not have any additional information at this time./s Company Car Group (7/13/09)
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I just recieved my letter for my increase in health care premium..it went up 124%! While I was anticipating some increase, this was a shocker. Frankly I would rather have lost vision and dental. On the one hand they restored SRP, and then took a chunk of it away with this move. I know NCRO is looking at health care insurance alternatives, but now is the time to expedite it. I know that the carriers and insurance providers are looking at providing some new product. THe major problem is going to be, that our "pool" of covered people will be /is older...and therefore use more healthcare....we cannot offset utilization (and therefore get the advantage of lower premiums) with a younger, healthier set of lives, like the Company can. We must get innovative and provide VOLUME to the carriers. In this regard, it is suggested NCRO hook up with GM and Ford retirees (along with Visteon and Delphi) to see how big a pool we can create to get bidding from providers and carriers.
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TWO ISSUES TO REPORT.....ONE, WITH RESPECT TO THE JULY PENSION 'STUB'...IF YOU PUSH BENEFITS EXPRESS, THEY HAVE SOMETHING THAT HAS ALL THE NUMBERS YOU WOULD NORMALLY HAVE ON YOUR 'STUB'. THEY INITIALLY RESISTED, BUT REMAINING PERSISTENT, THEY FINALLY AGREED AND MAILED IT TO ME. ITS GOOD TO HAVE A HARD COPY TO DOCUMENT YOUR PAID DEDUCTIONS.
SECONDLY, THE NCRO WEBSITE SAYS THE CDI PROGRAM IS NO LONGER ACTIVE..I HAVE RECENTLY USED THE FRIENDS PROGRAM AND IT SEEMS TO BE ACTIVE TODAY..
JUST TRYING TO PASS ALONG SOME INFORMATION
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Thank you for the Benefits Express/Pension 'stub' details. Keep calling or emailing until you get the answers you are looking for.
The CDI program the NCRO had on the website was a result of Chrysler giving us a block of numbers to share with friends and family. The discounts were 'employee' level discounts, not friends and family. After the block of numbers ran out, Chrysler did not give us any more. So yes, the Friends and Family Vehicle Discount Plan is still active, but the NCRO does not have anymore 'employee level' discounts.
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Money clip found after breakfast meeting. You describe it, then we'll figure out how to get in touch.
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The NCRO is, in fact, looking into insurance benefits together and separately with GM, Ford and Delphi. We have an insurance committee and are looking for volunteers to help on the committee. Also, as we are aligned with the National Retiree Legislative Network, the NRLN, they too are looking into all forms of insurance for retirees and therefore we can benefit from their extensive research and networking capabilities.
As far as your 124% increase, would you mind sharing the actual premium costs before and after the increase. The NCRO is gathering data that we can approach Chrysler with to show that they POSSIBLY exceeded the amount of health care premium increases they initially stated.
Any information you feel comfortable sharing can be posted here on the blog or sent to NChryslerRO@ncro.org.
Thank you
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I did not get pay stub for July, and again for August. Initially told it was "lost in the mail". Subsequently found out that July stub was never created for some of the pre-62, 100% SRP pensioners. Apparently, not for August either. Benefits Express can get you a data sheet; but, not the original. Does Payroll intend to resolve this issue?
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For those of you who were eligible, the 2006 PPSP payouts were made last week. I received mine and talked to another retiree who received his payment around the same time..
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"SCOOP"--Co Car Bulletin XXViii,Number 1":REIMBURSEMENT CLAIMS. "ISSUES WITH OUR VENDOR HAVE BEEN CORRECTED AND REIMBURSEMENT OF CLAIMS WILL RESUME IMMEDIATELY. cLAIMS WILL BE PROCESSED IN THE ORDER THEY WERE RECEIVED, WITH THE CURRENT BACKLOG TAKING 60 DAYS TO RESOLVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE"
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No it is not. and you will get notices in Nov 2009 telling you about the contribution for 2010
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Does the NCRO represent retirees from Chrysler Financial? I worked 32 years for Chrysler Corp. and the last 3 years of my career at Chrysler Financial. Thus, I'm retired from Chrysler Financial.
I read a story in the Detroit News today (10 23 2009)that said the Treasury Department states that Chrysler Financial is working to close its doors by the end of 2011. Cerberus Capital Management LP the owners of Chrysler Financial stated in the same article that it’s not in their business plan to shut down Chrysler Financial and they know nothing about it. Sounds like one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing.
If it does shut down what will this mean for Chrysler Financial retirees? Will Cerberus take over the pensions or will they go to PBGB?
What do you guys know if anything about this? Will the NCRO represent the Chrysler Financial retirees if this comes to pass? I cannot attend the meeting next week but if I could I would certainly ask this question.
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Chrysler reaffirmed that it will cancel the Car Lease Program for retirees at the end of 2009, as announced earlier. Chrysler has decided to reinstitute a “scaled down” Car Lease Program for salaried employees, but pointed out to NCRO that it would not reverse the decision on the retiree program because of “economic realities.” They said retirees at GM and Ford have no equivalent Car Lease Program.
NCRO leadership will continue to seek meetings with Chrysler management on key issues for salaried retirees, including addressing the canceled retiree lease car program, with the hope that Chrysler will recognize the importance of a strong, loyal retiree network.
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Too bad that current management feels that way. Fortunately for Toyota and Nissan's U.S. retirees, they are able to lease from their company.
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Its ashame that after 38 years with Chrysler, they only think about the present workforce and not about how the company survived all the other bad years with us retirees. It's ashame we cannot take back some of the years we came to Chrysler and give them to our family. Good Luck all you newbies, I don't know what you can look forward to after 38 years.
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I believe it is important to know that the lease car program was reportedly a "money maker"...It apparently was structured to be slightly better than a 'breakeven' program., which became a good benefit for employees and retirees and also provided excellent product exposure, while leveling out production schedules. It is confounding to me as to why they could not design the program to be a slight money maker and include retirees. They are being shortsighted in that retirees can be the best ambassadors for the product. I would urge the leadership to suggest this approach towards a renewed program
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The Lease Program will be changed to include retirees when the Exec VP that made this decision retires
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Do the people who run this state want more residents to leave? Our representatives in Lansing are discussing proposals to expand the state income tax and tax pension income as ordinary income. If sucessful an exodus of retirees will occur leaving a big demand gap for goods and services. Michigan is already drivng our youth from the state. Add even more of a population depletion and the economic base required for MIchigan to pull itself out of it's long depression disappears. It's time we let our representatives in Lansing know how we feel about this issue.
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Excellent idea. I had already written my State rep; but, would encourage every retiree to do the same. Additionally, NCRO should pick up this additional task.
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Has anyone checked out new retiree leasing program yet?
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Yes, checked out leasing a $37,265 MSRP Challenger. I was quoted $675/mo, about $175-$200 more than I expected.
Gary
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I just got this from a fellow retiree.
From: CCRetirees Organization [mailto: contactinfo@ccretirees.org ]
> Sent: December 7, 2009 4:26 PM
> To: CCRetirees Organization
> Subject: CCRetirees - Company Lease Program
>
> URGENT.
>
> Our CCRetirees Board of Directors has just been asked by Chrysler Canada management to notify you that the Chrysler Canada Employee Lease (EL ) Company Car Program for eligible retirees is being re-instated effective immediately. This decision was made following an extensive review of this and other programs on a corporate-wide scale and strong support from Chrysler Canada management.
>
> A letter announcing the reinstatement of the retiree lease (EL) program will be mailed to all eligible retirees within the next few days providing complete details on program rules and rates. We have been told it will be the same program offered to eligible employees: a one year lease including insurance. The Company Car Website will open to all eligible retirees on Monday, December 14th, 2009 and will remain open for orders through January 22nd, 2010.
"It sure make me feel appreciated as a U.S. retiree
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Well its not what the U.S was given. I got a price on the plan and it was not comparable to the regular lease offered. I got a lease offered to everyone and it was $60 cheaper. Again, we were not given anything....
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Has anyone received the letter regarding the new lease car program? The letter said the program opened on December 9th. A week later, the letter has not arrived.
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I am so happy to hear that Canada company car program was reinstated! I guess the U.S. workers were not quite as loyal as the Canadian workers.My 38 years at Chrysler means nothing, all you newbies there now, just wait you don't have a chance at retirement....But you guys at the top, thats another story...Greed rules!! I still am driving a Chrysler and will because I am loyal and hope all retirees will be so we can keep our benefits(what we have left) as long as possible...Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...
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I just wanted to let folks know that I just received payment on my SEIDP account based on my selected payout option. The SEIDP was not lost to the bankruptcy as predicted.
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Has anyone heard where this is going recently?
"Lansing discussing proposals to tax pension income as ordinary income"
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