| The number to call to see if your doctor/hospital is deemed is 1-866-222-3069. |
Visit the Benefits Team Home Page for assistance |
An overview of the Navigating Medicare document is available on video by clicking here. Retirees who are medicare eligible and retirees who will become medicare eligible in the coming year may find both the video and the document helpful. The LRO Benefits Team contracted with a private healthcare consultant to develop the Navigating Medicare document and video to provide retirees with an easy-to-understand analysis of the various Medicare based options, including Medicare Medigap plans (also called Medicare Supplement Insurance policies), Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare Part D drug plans. (If you have problems with the video, try the lower quality version here.) | |
Lucent Retirees Were Sent Questionnaire In Error
Some LRO Members who received the "Questionnaire for Beneficiaries with Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D)" have informed the LRO that they checked with the UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company and were told that the questionnaire was sent to Lucent retirees in error. We have verified this with UnitedHealthcare. Therefore, Medicare-eligible Lucent retirees should disregard the questionnaire. Please share this information with Lucent retirees that you know who may not receive emails from the LRO or visit the LRO website.
Ron Hoth,
LRO Benefits Team Director
Alcatel-Lucent's Board Appoints Four New Directors
Alcatel-Lucent Press Release - Dec. 12, 2008
Alcatel-Lucent’s board of directors announced today the appointment of four new directors:
- Stuart Eizenstat, Partner of Covington & Burling LLP, former Deputy Secretary, US Department of the Treasury,
- Louis Hughes, CEO of GBS Laboratories LLC, former President of Lockheed Martin, former President of GM International Operations, who will chair the newly formed Technology committee of the board,
- Jean Monty, former Chairman and CEO of BCE Inc (which owns Bell Canada), who will chair the Audit and Finance committee of the board,
- Olivier Piou,
CEO of Gemalto
Following the resignation of Jozef Cornu and Daniel Lebègue as of today, the board also includes:
Alcatel-Lucent to cut jobs as part of turnaround
By Greg Keller, Associated Press ~ Dec 12, 2008
Alcatel-Lucent said Friday it will eliminate another 1,000 white-collar jobs as part of its new chief's plan to return the company to profitability, but shares slumped as investors were hoping for a bolder shift in business strategy. The Paris-based maker of networking equipment for fixed and mobile telecommunications operators also intends to get rid of half of the 10,000 contractors it employs in measures aimed at saving euro750 million ($991 million) by the fourth quarter of 2009, the company said in a statement. Read more... Read more...
Alcatel-Lucent Says Pension Funding In Surplus At End Of Nov.
By Jethro Mullen; Dow Jones ~ Dec 12, 2008
Alcatel-Lucent said Friday it had a surplus in funding its pensions and other post-employment benefits at the end of November. The company said the funded status was "materially positive" at the end of the month. It didn't immediately elaborate.
Markets had previously been concerned turbulent markets would evaporate the surplus. But at the end of October, the company had said the surplus on pensions and other post-employment benefits puts it in a strong position, despite financial market turmoil.
The surplus stood at EUR3.0 billion at the end of September, versus EUR2.85 billion at the end of June.
Alcatel-Lucent Provides Information For Retirees Who Drop Company-Sponsored Medical Plan
Alcatel-Lucent has responded to the Lucent Retiree Organization's request to provide Lucent retirees with additional information about when the company would provide the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) notice certifying the loss of Alcatel-Lucent coverage for the Medicare-eligible management retirees who elect to drop the company's medical coverage for 2009.
Remember, the Annual Open Enrollment Period for 2009 Alcatel-Lucent healthcare coverage ends on Friday, November 21, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Your questions about the company-sponsored healthcare plans should be directed to the Alcatel-Lucent Benefits Center at 1-888-232-4111.
The following is the message from Alcatel-Lucent:"If you elect to drop Alcatel-Lucent retiree medical coverage, in early to mid-December, you will receive a HIPAA notice certifying your loss of Alcatel-Lucent coverage.
Further, if you are Medicare-eligible, we understand that the HIPAA notice will be sufficient to serve as notification of your loss of Alcatel-Lucent medical coverage to another plan in the event you wish to sign up for coverage elsewhere.
However, in the event your new plan requires any additional information, you can submit a detailed request to coveragenotice@alcatel-lucent.com . This e-mail address will not be available until after the HIPPA notices are distributed.
In addition to any specific information requirements from your new plan, your request must include:
Name
Last 4 digits of your Social Security Number
Address
Telephone Number
Email Address
Please note that this additional support will not be available until after the issuance of the HIPAA Notice in early to mid-December as we understand that the HIPAA notice will be sufficient in most cases.
Sincerely,
Alcatel-Lucent Benefits
Mutual of Omaha Offers Alternative To Alcatel-Lucent Health Care Plans
In response to numerous requests from Lucent retirees, the LRO has sought health care insurance companies that would provide an alternative to the Alcatel-Lucent plans for 2009. Mutual of Omaha has responded to the LRO. Please read the letter below that LRO President Andy Guarriello has sent to John Hickey, Alcatel-Lucent Human Resources Vice President.
Click here to read the letter sent to the LRO by Mutual of Omaha.
The LRO wants to be clear that it is not endorsing the Mutual of Omaha health care plan. The LRO is providing this information to LRO members who may want to explore an alternative to the 2009 health care plans being offered by Alcatel-Lucent. Each Lucent retiree, their spouse and any other dependents must decide whether it is in their best interest to switch from a company-sponsored plan to an "outside" plan.
November 7, 2008
TO: John Hickey, Alcatel-Lucent Human Resources Vice President
Subject: Guaranteed Issue Rights
John
As you know, many of our retirees have been concerned about having documentation that would allow them to obtain Medicare supplement policies on a Guaranteed Issue basis, without regard to pre-existing medical conditions.
Surely you won't be surprised that the LRO has expended much activity in investigating options for 2009. One company has recently responded to the LRO with regard to providing Guarantee Issuance Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap policies). That company is Mutual of Omaha and their affiliates.
I have received the attached letter dated November 4, 2008 from Mutual of Omaha. In that letter they stipulate that, after their investigation, they consider all Lucent retirees to be eligible for their Guaranteed Issue Medicare Supplements (Medigap policies), without further documentation, because Lucent's current indemnity plan terminates 12/31/08.
Further, they have already established a number (1-800-492-6345) that all of our Medicare eligible retirees can call to inquire about and receive information as to the Medicare options and related prices that Mutual of Omaha will provide.
Finally, Mutual of Omaha intends to establish a fully staffed call center for serving those retirees who receive their pensions from Lucent.
Andy
NAVIGATING MEDICARE - A Resource Guide for LRO Members
The LRO understands that the SecureHorizons option that is being offered by Alcatel-Lucent for management retirees
that are medicare eligible and their medicare eligible dependents might not work for everyone, and the task of exploring the various Medicare based options in the marketplace can be overwhelming.
To assist our retirees in this difficult decision process, the LRO Benefits Team has contracted with a private healthcare consultant to develop easy-to-understand analyses of the various Medicare based options, including Medicare Medigap plans (also called Medicare Supplement Insurance policies), Medicare Advantage plans, and Medicare Part D drug plans.
This LRO funded resource material, "NAVIGATING MEDICARE," can be
accessed by clicking here.
This document requires
the Adobe Reader which can be downloaded
using the iconlink at the right.
If you have trouble accessing the adobe version of this document,
click here.
More detailed information and Medicare documents are on the
LRO Benefits Team home page.
LRO Board Adopts Goals For 2008/2009
The Lucent Retirees Organization Board of Directors has adopted the LRO Goals for 2008/2009. The Board seeks the support of LRO members in its efforts to accomplish the goals.
Click here to read the goals.
Reminder To Regularly Visit LRO Benefits Team Web Pages
LRO Members are reminded to regularly check the LRO Benefits Team web pages for healthcare and prescription drug information.
Click here to go directly to the Benefits Team Home Page or click on the Benefits tab at the top of this Home Page. Once on the Benefits Home Page, click on the "Rx Tab" for updated information about prescription drugs.
LRO Still Seeking Older Pension & Benefit Documents
The LRO appreciates that many members have responded generously to the LRO’s request for pension and benefit papers to build the LRO Documents Library. We now have copies in our data base of many pension, medical, dental, death benefit and life insurance plan documents and correspondence from about 1980 to the present. The LRO is still seeking older pension, life insurance and benefit plan documents and correspondence from the 1970s and earlier.
If you have or know of other Lucent retirees who may have any documents and correspondence from this period, the LRO would appreciate learning about them.
Click here to learn
how you can help expand the LRO Documents Library.
Privacy Statement:
The LRO endeavors to protect the privacy of personal
information provided through membership registration. Your
information will only be used for purposes related to the LRO's
mission and will never be released for purposes not authorized by
the LRO Board of Directors.
Suggestions and comments about this website should be addressed to
webmaster@lucentretirees.com
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"If you elect to drop Alcatel-Lucent retiree medical coverage, in early to mid-December, you will receive a HIPAA notice certifying your loss of Alcatel-Lucent coverage.
Further, if you are Medicare-eligible, we understand that the HIPAA notice will be sufficient to serve as notification of your loss of Alcatel-Lucent medical coverage to another plan in the event you wish to sign up for coverage elsewhere.
However, in the event your new plan requires any additional information, you can submit a detailed request to coveragenotice@alcatel-lucent.com . This e-mail address will not be available until after the HIPPA notices are distributed.
In addition to any specific information requirements from your new plan, your request must include:
Name
Last 4 digits of your Social Security Number
Address
Telephone Number
Email Address
Please note that this additional support will not be available until after the issuance of the HIPAA Notice in early to mid-December as we understand that the HIPAA notice will be sufficient in most cases.
Sincerely,
Alcatel-Lucent Benefits
Name
Last 4 digits of your Social Security Number
Address
Telephone Number
Email Address
Please note that this additional support will not be available until after the issuance of the HIPAA Notice in early to mid-December as we understand that the HIPAA notice will be sufficient in most cases.
Sincerely,
Alcatel-Lucent Benefits
November 7, 2008
TO: John Hickey, Alcatel-Lucent Human Resources Vice President
Subject: Guaranteed Issue Rights
John
As you know, many of our retirees have been concerned about having documentation that would allow them to obtain Medicare supplement policies on a Guaranteed Issue basis, without regard to pre-existing medical conditions.
Surely you won't be surprised that the LRO has expended much activity in investigating options for 2009. One company has recently responded to the LRO with regard to providing Guarantee Issuance Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap policies). That company is Mutual of Omaha and their affiliates.
I have received the attached letter dated November 4, 2008 from Mutual of Omaha. In that letter they stipulate that, after their investigation, they consider all Lucent retirees to be eligible for their Guaranteed Issue Medicare Supplements (Medigap policies), without further documentation, because Lucent's current indemnity plan terminates 12/31/08.
Further, they have already established a number (1-800-492-6345) that all of our Medicare eligible retirees can call to inquire about and receive information as to the Medicare options and related prices that Mutual of Omaha will provide.
Finally, Mutual of Omaha intends to establish a fully staffed call center for serving those retirees who receive their pensions from Lucent.
Andy
the Adobe Reader which can be downloaded
using the iconlink at the right. If you have trouble accessing the adobe version of this document, click here.