GMRC Kickoff Breakfast San Marino Club, Troy Michigan 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. September 18, 2014 Introductions Why Support the NRLN – Jay Kuhnie, Chrysler Retirees Bob Tompkins, Detroit Edison Retirees GMRC/NRLN Support GM Retirees – NRLN President Bill Kadereit Care Giving and Long-Term Care - Melissa Spickler Medicare and the 2014 Enrollment - George Wojdacki Discussion 1
WHO WE ARE-THE NRLN MISSION and FOCUS THE NRLN IS THE ONLY U.S. ORGANIZATION DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO RESTORE AND ADVANCE BOTH INCOME AND HEALTH CARE BENEFITS FOR CURRENT & PROSPECTIVE RETIREES THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ACTION. 2
NRLN RESOURCES NRLN RETIREE SUPPORT and ADVOCACY • 30 Formally Organized Retirees Associations and Chapters. • 400,000 Members in our Core Retiree Associations and Chapters. • 200 U. S. Companies Retirees Have Contributed to the NRLN. • 2,200,000 Retirees Who Retired From These 200 Companies. • We Have a Professional Lobby and Strategic Presence on Capitol Hill. • 48,000 Action Network Members Lobby Congress – 2,300 Daily Website Hits. • Grassroots Members Live In all 50 states & All Congressional Districts and we Have District Leaders in over 75% of the 435 Congressional Districts. • Member Survey Responses are the Basis for A Well Developed Legislative Agenda and Supporting Whitepapers. • Legislative, Pension and Regulatory Affairs Committees Maintain a Constant Vigil over Congress and Government Agencies. NRLN’s STRENGTH COMES FROM MEMBER ACTION – No campaign donations, free lunches, dinners, booze or trips. 3
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CURRENT CONGRESSIONAL SITUATION / CLIMATE • Political Power Struggles Are Exposing Ignorance • No Real Problem Solvers – Every Year Is Election Year • Super PACS & Unprecedented Media Attacks Hurt • The Cost of Staying in Office Has Compromised Most • Campaign Contributions Create Bad Decisions • Companies Treat Retirees like Yesterday’s Garbage However, we are gaining ground…. 5
2013 Federal Reserve Board Study - Released 8/7/14 Saving for Retirement : Most Common Savings Vehicles – 401k & IRA, 44% Employer Pension, 18% Resource Most Planned on for Retirement – Social Security, 45% Those with Retirement Savings or Pension – Overall, 31% Those 55-64, 19%!!! Never Thought About Retirement Savings – Age 18-29, 41% Age >60, 20%!!! Those Planning to Keep Working – Overall, 33% Those 45 or older, 41%!!! Plans to Retire or Work – Retire and Not Work, 18% Work Part Time, 18% Work until they are Unable to, 25%!!! 6
2013 Federal Reserve Board Study - Released 8/7/14 Overall Financial Status – OK, 60%; Just getting by, 25%; Struggling, 13% Financial Status Since Recession – Worse 34%; Same, 34%; Better, 30% Ability to Pay Medical Cost to (over a 12 month period) - Could you cover a hypothetical emergency costing $400 without selling something or borrowing ? Yes, 48% Could You Pay Out-of-Pocket Major Medical Expense? – Yes, 43% Somewhat likely 34% Did You Pay Out of Pocket for Unexpected Care? – Yes 24% paid for Did You Avoid Getting Needed Health Care Due to Inability to Pay? – Yes, 34% Opinion: The recession created short term income & savings issues. Shifting health care, life insurance & retirement income risks, a shift to lower paying jobs and potential Medicare privatization and Social Security risks threaten to create a chronic long-term risk for retirees. 7
Prescription Drug Importation Pricing Examples – Jan 2014 Advair Disku Nexium Plavix Prevacid Lipitor Gleevec Heartburn / Acid Reflux Heartburn / Blood During Asthma Acid Reflux Clotting Pregnancy Cholesterol Leukemia 23,044 26,546 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. 2012 U.S. Retail Unit Sales (000)* $24.71 $7.17 $27.03 $7.47 $6.93 $250.00 U.S. Brand Unit Price ** $2.65 $2.54 $13.23 $3.20 $2.53 $103.33 Canadian Brand Unit Price *** $1.75 $0.70 $0.78 $1.10 $1.13 $17.83 Canadian Generic Unit Price *** $508,351 $122,908 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. Canadian Brand Savings ($000) Canadian Brand % Savings 89.3% 64.6% 51.1% 57.2% 63.5% 58.7% Canadian Generic Savings ($000) $529,090 $171,753 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A. Canadian Generic % Savings 92.9% 90.2% 97.1% 85.3% 83.7% 92.9% * Source: www.Drugs.com ** U.S Unit prices based on St George Utah area prices at www.new.lowestnet.com *** Canadian Unit prices based on St George Utah area prices at www.canadapharmacy.com
WHERE ARE WE TODAY ? Prescription Drugs Senate S.27 : Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act – Was Passed in 2011. House, H.R. 3715 , “The Personal Drug Importation Fairness Act of 2013”, would give Americans access to imported, safe, lower priced prescription drugs. Senate, S.117, and in the House, H.R.1102, - both entitled “The Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act” - would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Senate, S.214, “The Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act”, would help put an end to the practice of brand-name drug manufacturers using pay-for-delay. 9
WHERE ARE WE TODAY ? Protecting Medicare S. 2087 , the “Medicare Protection Act”, would amend the Congressional Budget Act (Ryan Act) and would express the sense of the Senate that, (1) the Medicare eligibility age should not be increased and (2) the Medicare program should not be privatized and insurers should not be subsidized with “premium support” (vouchers) pass-through payments. Medicare’s 3 -Day Inpatient Rule H.R. 3531 , “The Creating Access to Rehabilitation for Every Senior (CARES) Act”. This bipartisan bill would eliminate the 3-day "inpatient" hospital stay requirement for Medicare beneficiaries who are in need of SNF services. H.R. 1179 and S. 569 - both entitled “The Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act” - would count being in a hospital for "observation" toward satisfying the "inpatient" requirement for Medicare to cover SNF services. 10
WHERE ARE WE TODAY ? Affordable Care Act (ACA) Impact on Retirees The Affordable Care Act (ACA) prevents insurers from denying coverage to Americans under age 65 due to a pre-existing medical condition but not those over 65. The NRLN is advocating the same protection for those over age 65. The ACA requires out-of-pocket protection for retirees under 65 but not those over 65, The NRLN is advocates out-of-pocket limits for those on Medicare. Insurers must spend 85% of Medicare Advantage (MA) premiums on the cost of health care . Medigap plans must spend only 65-70%. MA plans set lower “ community-rated ” premiums but most Medigap plans are “ age-rated ” (rate change due to age and cost change). The NRLN is advocating that Medigap plans pay- out 85% and insurers set “community - rated” Medigap premiums. 11
WHERE ARE WE TODAY ? Retirement Income Security Congress needs to address the Social Security funding gap through modest increases in the payroll tax and temporarily suspending the ceiling on earnings that can be taxed. Trust funds should be held in a “lock box” and the tax rate and earnings ceiling lowered once the trust is actuarially funded. Install “lock box” rules that preclude Congress from using funds – owe trust $1.8 Trillion. A thorough analysis to determine the best CPI for COLA must be completed. Bankruptcy Reform S. 2418 , “The Bankruptcy Fairness and Employee Benefits Protection Act”, includes provisions in the NRLN’s white paper on Bankruptcy Reform. NRLN members sent 17,500 Action Alerts to members of Congress supporting the extension of HCTC to retirees ages 55 to 64. (pre-Medicare eligibility) Delphi retirees benefited. Without full judiciary committee support on both sides of the aisle, this bill may not stand much of a chance for passage by Congress. 12
NRLN NEEDS GM RETIREE’S & GMRC LEADERSHIP HELP Auto Synergy with NCRO, Ford, DELPHI in MI and OH 6,000 Members in all 50 states – 75% Access Email 2,800 Members Live In Michigan – In 289 MI Cities 9 of 13 MI CD Leaders are GM Retirees (6 more in OH) 70 GM Retirees Sent > 30 Messages (high of 113) 13
GM Retirees Have a Voice in Washington D.C. Those Under < 65 Need Lower Cost HC Plan Choices Those Over > 65 Need Lower Cost Supplemental Plan Choices Medicare Privatization Risk Is Growing – Must Stop Vouchers Medicare Benefits are Being Reduced Through Regulatory Action Social Security Fund Is a Congressional Kitty – Raided $1.8 Trillion Congress and White House Don’t Get It – It’s the Cost Stupid! There is More at Risk than Meets the GM Retiree’s Eye 14
GMRC Retiree Leadership Is Very Important In 2010 There were > 325 GM Clubs – Today 83 (25 in MI) In 2010 There were 4,500 GMRA Members in all Most States… but Today there are 6,000 Members in all 50 states – 75% with Email 2,800 Members Live In Michigan – In 289 MI Cities 9 of 13 MI CD Leaders are GM Retirees (6 more in OH) Supporting Retirees Does Not Mean Tearing Down GM! New GMRC Leadership Will Grow Grassroots Support and Will be the Link Between You and Washington D.C. 15
NRLN Support for GMRC Leaders and Members NRLN Retirees from 200 Companies Nationwide NRLN Staff & National Team in Washington D.C. U.S. Grassroots Support in 50 States & 75% of CD’s GMRC Member Services Provided by NRLN: GMRC’s Own Webpage – www.nrln.org Email and Mailing Services Use of Phone Teleconferencing Bridge Service GMRC 2-Page Insert in Focus Newsletter - 3/Year Communications & Accounting and Tax Services 16
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