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AT&T
Retiree Coalition Member HEALTH Survey - POSTED 2/26/08
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9/24/06
press release regarding AASBCR Board restructure - POSTED 10/5/06 click here
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LEADERSHIP OF FOUR MAJOR RETIREE ASSOCIATIONS
MEET WITH ATT - POSTED 6/27/06
On April 27, in San Antonio, Texas, leaders from the four major retiree
associations, representing retirees of the various ATT companies, met and
developed a series of questions for AT&T. They then met with AT&T
management where they posed these questions. In attendance from AT&T
Management was HR Benefits VP Sue Colburn with four of her associates (Marty
Webb, Debbie Trammell, John Brockman, Jeff Mains) plus Pam Medina of Human
Resources Policy. To read the Questions posed by the Retiree Groups
and the AT&T Answers click here.
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Lawmakers need to
look at pension reform - POSTED 5/23/06
An "OPINION"
article by Carole Lovell,
1st Vice President of the AASBCR,
published on 4/13/06 in the
PARMA SUN POST,
BEREA, OHIO Click here to read the
article.
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ADVISE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES OF YOUR OPINION OF PRES. BUSH'S HEALTH CARE
PROPOSALS - POSTED 4/12/06
On February 15, in
Columbus, Ohio, President Bush proposed Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as
one method of combating spiraling health care costs. While there is
merit in his proposal, it will not help retirees in its original format.
AASBCR VP Ray Sternot has created an explanation of many of these
shortcomings and crafted letters to Representatives, Senators, and the
President suggesting action to be taken to alleviate these shortcomings.
Please examine his work and, if you agree, use the provided letters (with
your personal modifications) to let your elected representatives know how
you feel. Click here for Ray's message, and
sample letters.
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To
determine who your elected officials are
Click here. On the CAPWIZ page that comes up, locate the
enter zip code
box at the upper left corner of the page, fill in your ZIP code. and
click on the  |
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FORMER
Legislation AFFECTING RETIREES FROM THE 109TH CONGRESS - Updated 4/12/06
The following material covering pending retiree protection legislation was
composed by Ray Sternot, VP-Legislation from material developed by the NRLN,
and is a well done summary of legislation that could affect you. Please read
this and let your Congressman and US senator know what you think. There are
64 bills listed which would affect retirees. These bills, if not enacted,
will be deleted at the end of the Congressional Term (when the next Congress
is sworn in, January 4, 2007) and we will start all over from the beginning.
Click here for view of FORMER
legislation pending in the 109th Congress – New legislation in the 110th
congress is being developed – stay tuned!”
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PRESIDENT
BUSH'S 2/15/06 ADDRESS ON HEALTH-CARE CRISIS - POSTED 2/28/06
On February 15,
President Bush gave an address at Wendy's headquarters in Dublin, Ohio. He
discussed the health-care crisis in America and proposed Health Savings
Accounts in this address. [Read
this address by clicking here]
Ray Sternot, AASBCR Vice President of
Legislation responded to this address.
Click here for Ray's 1st
response letter dated 2/18/06.
Click here for Ray's 2nd
response letter dated 3/2/06
Bruce Beckman, President of the AASBCR,
is sending his response.
Click here for Bruce's response letter.
We are working on a sample letter for the membership. It will be
available shortly.
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sec
proposal to make proxy statements available only via internet - 2/14/06
The SEC is proposing to allow companies to make
their proxy statements available only over the Internet; the companies could
then mail shareholders only the proxy voting card (showing only management
voting recommendations), requiring individuals to go online to see
disclosures and retiree shareholder proposals.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS
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UNITED HEALTH CARE PLAN 2006 CONCERNS - POSTED 2/1/2006
The following letter was sent to Karen Jennings, Sr Executive Vice President
of ATT, Inc. (To
view the letter please click here.) In my opinion, it effectively
demonstrates the kinds of unintended results of the new Consumer Incentive
Health Care Plans. We are in an era of health care empowerment where we will
be more responsible for costs. Where the savvier will pay less and the
uninformed will pay more.
The Federal Government is telling us to become more
involved in the costs of health care, thinking by taking a hands off
approach this will contain costs. ATT
is determined to reign in Health care costs and has stepped back from its
involvement. The
Plan manager is maximizing its profit margins by simply administering to the
paper work. United Health is just saying what is allowable for deductible
and therefore attributable to the annual deduction. Any additional charges
will be up to us to negotiate. If this is an accurate portrayal, then where
is the added value?
Please watch your costs with
this new high deductible plan. This kind of plan makes it advantageous to
discuss charges before work is done. Make sure the fee charged is within the
UHC guidelines.
Bruce Beckman
President, AASBCR, Inc.
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UNITED HEALTH COVERAGE UPDATE
CLICK
HERE FOR DETAILS - 1/11/2006
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United
Health vs. Advocate Hospitals Rift
CLICK
HERE FOR MORE - 12/1/2005
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EPR Retiree Class Action Suit update
For those of you who are EPR retirees, were
Service Pension eligible as of July 1, 1999 and took a lump sum, there is a
rumor floating about that the Linda Call vs. Ameritech Management Pension
Plan law suit holding Class Action Status has been settled and the checks
are in the mail.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE - 12/1/05
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SHRINKING
BENEFITS
This October 19, 2005
Wall Street Journal article by Ellen Schultz describes the shrinking
benefits of management retirees in the United States. Please note the
section on Active vs Retired Management Risk Groups. This is one of the
reasons why our premiums continue to rise.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE ARTICLE -
Posted 10/19/05
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SBC has responded to three follow-up questions
on the new medical plan posed them on July 7, 2005. In addition, I am also
adding the Q&A to two subsequent questions. Please note the surviving
spousal costs as stated in answer number one: Click
here for the detailed questions and the answers provided by Sue Colburn’s
staff - Posted July 18, 2005
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Click here
for a synopsis of the meeting held June 21, 2005 with Karen Jennings, Sue
Colburn, other SBC Human Resources managers, Ralph Kolderup and Bruce
Beckman of the Association of Ameritech/SBC Retirees. As you may know,
Karen Jennings is the SBC Senior Executive Vice-President-Human Resources. -
Posted July 11, 2005
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Burning Through Money in
Retirement: A Tale of Three Withdrawal Strategies - 4/27/05
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SBC chief [Whitacre]
will get millions in retirement — is it a proper reward? -
3/25/05
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Retirees Defeat
Verizon in Shareholder Proxy Proposal for Third Consecutive Year -
Posted 3/24/05
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SBC Dependent Eligibility Certification -
Posted 2/28/05
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“Ten Ways
Employers Benefit from Benefits Plans”,Wall Street JournaL - 1/24/05
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To Afford Retirement, Cut Your Taxes,
Fire Your Broker, And Get a Part-Time Job - WSJ Article 6/2/04 - Posted
6/28/04
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SBC Board of Directors perks - Posted 6/7/04
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Retiree Health Costs Are
Far Higher Than Expected - DOW Jones NewWire - Posted 5/16/04
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The 4/30/03 Annual SBC Shareholders Meeting
Summary - AASBCR 6/16/04 Annual Members Meeting Agenda - Posted 5/10/04