By GM invitation, several GMRA leaders recently attended a Ride and Drive event at the Milford Proving Ground, along with about 300 other GM retirees. The retiree guests drove the latest line-up of GM products, including key competitor vehicles, had guided tours of the grounds and an opportunity to talk with GM Benefit and HR representatives.
GM acknowledged the contributions of retirees during their careers and the challenges of making some difficult decisions over the last 18 months that were tough on retirees. They also expressed the challenge of making those hard calls, but were in the position of making the calls, or closing the doors.
An announcement was made by GM at the event that they would be submitting an application to participate in the Affordable Care Act, a $5 billion government program that is intended to ensure that affordable health care coverage remains available to retirees who are under 65, and not yet eligible for Medicare. If the GM application is accepted, it could mean a $10-15 million subsidy to GM toward reducing health care coverage expenses. According to conditions of the program, if the application is accepted, the subsidy money must be used to reduce health care costs, by either reducing health care expenses, or by offering premium relief to workers and families -- or a combination of both. GM did not share exactly how a subsidy would be applied if the application is accepted. The program runs through January 2014, but that is only if the funding levels do not run out. Some expect it will. Also on the health care front, GM says we should expect few, if any, changes to the retiree health care program for next year. More to come on that from GM.
We have been in dialogue with GM since early this year to make sure your concerns are heard, and addressed. As a result of our early-on recommendations, GM is reaching out to retirees with events such as the Milford program, and plans to continue this outreach. So, if you get an invitation in the future, we hope you will consider it. It’s a great opportunity to make your voice heard and to share your personal concerns. In the meantime, if you have an issue you cannot resolve, let us know, and we will be happy to help, where we can.
