PROTECT PENSION ASSETS FOR RETIREES

Companies and labor unions are lobbying Congress for temporary relief from Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA) pension plan funding requirements. It is critical that LRO members immediately send the NRLN's Sample Letter to their Representative and Senators to tell them they need to include the protection of pension assets in any bill that is passed on pension plan funding relief. Click here to read the NRLN's Action Alert and to access the Sample Letter.

---

The LRO CONNECTION - Spring 2010

We invite you to read LRO's latest newsletter, featuring articles about current and future activities. click here

---

NRLN Adds Florida Forum in The Villages - Register Now

In addition to two sessions of the NRLN Florida Forum in Sarasota on March 25, 2010, a session has bee added in The Villages on March 26, 2010. The Sarasota Forum will be held at the Gulfcoast Event and Conference Center. The morning session begins at 8:00 a.m. and the afternoon session begins at 1:00 p.m.

The Forum in The Villages will be held at the Savannah Recreation Center. The single session begins at 8:00 a.m. NRLN and Retiree Association leaders want to hear Florida retirees concerns, respond to their questions and discuss with them the NRLN's lobbying efforts for legislation to protect pensions, benefits, Social Security and Medicare. Register yourself, your spouse and your friends today! Read more...

---

NRLN Presents Legislative Agenda to White House Staff

As the result of a number of NRLN letters sent to the White House, President Obama's staff charged with crafting and managing health care reform policy for the Administration invited the NRLN Washington, DC team to a one-on-one meeting. Marta Bascom, NRLN Executive Director, and Michael Calabrese, NRLN Legislative Strategist, met on Thursday, Feb. 17th, with key staff members to reiterate the NRLN's primary health care legislative priorities. The NRLN staff placed emphasis on the reimportation of safe, lower cost prescription drugs; the NRLN's Maintenance of Cost Payment proposal to protect retirement benefits as currently embodied in the House health care reform bill, and Medicare buy-in for retirees ages 55-64 at a cost that will not burden Medicare, plus other issues important to retirees.

The White House staff restated President Obama's commitment to comprehensive health care reform and reviving the conference on the bills that have been passed by the House and Senate. The NRLN urged the White House to support the NRLN's efforts on Capitol Hill to get these proposals passed independently should they not pass in a comprehensive national health care bill. Many of the issues of great importance to retirees are not included in the final, pared-down bills on the Hill and need to be addressed immediately.

The fact that the White House invited the NRLN's staff to a meeting demonstrates that our messages are gaining the attention of government leaders. The emails and phone calls to Washington, DC from our Grassroots Network members are an important part of making the voices of retirees heard. Together, our efforts will make a positive contribution to retirement security.

Finally, I want to share with you the text of a letter that I sent to Senator Harry Reid, Majority Leader, with a copy to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on the subject of pension asset protection. A similar personalized letter was sent to six other leaders in the Senate. We are closely tracking the pension funding relief issue in Congress and may need to call on our Grassroots Network members to send letters and make phone calls to their elected representatives.

Bill Kadereit

President, National Retiree Legislative Network

---

Safeguard Program Reunion Being Planned for July 10, 2010

LRO members who worked on the Safeguard Program during the Cold War years may be interested in knowing that a reunion for the Safeguard Program is being planned for July 10, 2010 in Nakoma, North Dakota. A website related to the project and detailing the reunion is available at http://www.srmsc.org . The website provides links to material about the Safeguard Program and the Anti Ballistic Missile sites. The event will include an Air Force fly over, guided tours, a picnic, dinner theater and group photo. This might be the only time that those who worked on the Safeguard Program (and their families) may be able to get into the facilities. Also, commemorative golf shirts and coins are available.

---

Clarification of LRO/NRLN Position on Healthcare

Recently a letter from LRO President Andy Guarriello regarding NRLN individual memberships was posted on the LRO website. The letter recommended that individuals also consider becoming NRLN members.

Subsequently, we learned that some NRLN members were under the impression that the NRLN supported pending healthcare resolutions. Please know that is definitely not the case. The following is provided to clarify your LRO's position and thrust:
The LRO does not support any bill, party or member of Congress. Neither does the NRLN. However, the LRO does support the NRLN’s lobbying for the passage of legislation containing provisions that will benefit retirees. Please understand: by law, neither organization can support any bill, party or member of Congress. If we violate this law, we will lose our non-profit status.

There are three health care bills in the House and Senate. At some point, they will become one. Revisions to House Bill HR 3200 are occurring on an almost daily basis. The NRLN does not support HR 3200 either from a liberal or a conservative view. It does support HR 3200’s Sections 164 and 165 (which preserve retiree benefits), and its Section 1181 (which allows for the closure of Medicare’s so-called doughnut hole).

At the risk of being redundant: both organizations support only those sections of pending legislation that will benefit retirees. And they are dedicated to ensuring that retirees are protected to the greatest extent possible as regards their healthcare and pension benefits. Much effort is being put forth to ensure that pending bills are amended so as to contain language that will protect or enhance our retirees rights. We do so without, in any way, defending the entire bill itself.

---

CLAIMS AND DEDUCTIBLE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR RETIREES ENROLLED IN SECUREHORIZONS MEDICARE DIRECT OR UNITEDHEALTHCARE POS OR TRADITIONAL INDEMNITY PLANS

The LRO has been advised by the Alcatel-Lucent Benefits Organization that retirees who are enrolled in the SecureHorizons MedicareDirect Plan or UnitedHealthcare POS or Traditional Indemnity Plans can access their personal claims and deductible information online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Retirees enrolled in the Secure Horizons Medicare Direct Plan can access their information by going to https://www.uhcretiree.com/. This website is listed on the back of your UH ID card. Registration online is easy. When you access the website it will ask you to register so that you can view your account online. All you need to do to register is provide your email address and your SecureHorizons MedicareDirect member ID. Once you complete your registration online you will be able to view your personal claims and deductible information. If you have any questions regarding your claims and/or deductible information, you should contact SecureHorizons directly at 1-888-980-8117 (TTY: 1-888-685-8480).

There is a different website to access for retirees in the UnitedHealthcare POS and the Traditional Indemnity Plans. They can access their personal claim and deductible information online by going to: https://www.myuhc.com/ This website is listed on the back of your UH ID card. When you access this site, if you are already registered, log in with your username and password to get your personalized healthcare and benefit information. If you have not registered on this site you will need a username and password. Click on Register Now to obtain a username and password through their free registration process for those enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare plan.

If you have any questions regarding your personalized healthcare and benefit information, retirees in the POS plan should contact UnitedHealthcare directly at 1-800-577-8539. For retirees enrolled in the Traditional Indemnity Plan, you should contact UnitedHealthcare directly at 1-800-577-8567.

---

LRO Leaders Urge Members To Communicate With Members of Congress

Andy Guarriello, LRO President, and Bob Martina, LRO Legislative Affairs Director, have called on LRO members to take action when they receive an Action Alert from the National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN). They urge LRO members to use the NRLN's CapWiz system to email personalized messages to their U.S. Senators and Representatives. Click here to read the Legislative Initiatives message.

---

LRO Monitoring Performance of SecureHorizons Healthcare Plan

The LRO Benefit Committee is monitoring the performance of the Alcatel-Lucent provided United Healthcare SecureHorizons-Medicare Direct plan.

Some retirees are experiencing problems with their doctors and/or hospitals not accepting this coverage. When the LRO leaders hear about problems, they immediately go to work, in conjunction with the Alcatel-Lucent Headquarters Benefit Organization, to get retiree problems resolved in a timely manner, if at all possible. An executive at United Health SecureHorizons told the LRO that their customer service folks will vigorously pursue situations where this coverage is not accepted, in an attempt to get providers deemed (accepting this coverage).

He told the LRO that, in many cases, they do get the doctors and hospitals to come on board after they explain who they are and how they function. They are not successful in all cases, and when they aren't, they locate alternative providers in most instances. He further stated that their overall providers plan acceptance (deeming) rate is at 95.5%. This is predicated on all providers listed on Alcatel-Lucent's 2008 retirees healthcare claims activity. Retirees should contact their providers to insure they are currently accepting SecureHorizons and resolve any problems before an appointment or emergency arises.

If a deeming problem arises, the SecureHorizons Customer Service number is 1-888-980-8117. If problems persist contact the Alcatel-Lucent Benefits Center on 1-888-232-4111. If you cannot obtain a resolution, then you can contact the LRO for assistance by email at: benefits@lucentretirees.com.

---

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.

Pressure mounts for/against healthcare bill
By Kim Geiger and Tom Hamburger, Los Angles Times - March 8, 2010

As President Obama pushes for a prompt up or down vote on his health initiative, lobbyists and activist groups on both sides of the issue have launched grass-roots and high-dollar advertising campaigns on the roughly two dozen members of Congress who may be the final swing votes on the controversial issue... Read more...

---

Obama takes hard-sell health pitch to Pa.
By Richard Wolf, USA TODAY - March 8, 2010

President Obama stepped up pressure Monday on his fellow Democrats to retool the nation's health care system, decrying those who put politics above policy...Read more...

---

'Trust' Gap Between House, Senate Dems Hurting Health Care Push
FOX News ~ Mar 07, 2010

With President Obama pushing anew to pass the health care package through Congress in the coming weeks, several House Democrats have voiced concern that the Senate could betray them if they go along and pass its version of the health bill... Read more...

---

Obama's health care pitch to Democrats: Trust me
By Charles Babington, AP; Plainview Daily Herald ~ Mar 07, 2010

In private pitches to Democrats, President Barack Obama says he will persuade Congress to pass his health care overhaul even if it kills him and even if he has to ask deeply distrustful lawmakers to trust him on a promise the White House doesn't have the power to keep... Read more...

---

Healthcare reform: 'Fixes' to bills are first major hurdle
By Gail Russell Chaddock; The Christian Science Monitor ~ Mar 05, 2010

House and Senate still have to work out tough issues on healthcare reform, including funding and abortion. The devil could be in the details – including 'fixes' House members want made to the Senate bill... Read more...

---

Obama to Dems: Health bill results will be seen by midterm elections
By Jordy Yager; The Hill ~ Mar 06, 2010

President Barack Obama on Saturday continued his final push to pass a healthcare bill this year as he attempted to assuage Democratic concerns that pieces of the massive measure wouldn’t take effect this year, in time to show voters tangible results... Read more...

---

U.S. to owe nearly as much as it produces by 2020, new CBO report shows
By Jon Ward; The Daily Caller ~ Mar 06, 2010

The United States in 2020 will owe to creditors almost as much as it produces as an economy, and interest on the national debt will grow to almost $1 trillion, according to an analysis [1] of President Obama’s budget released by the Congressional Budget Office... Read more...

---

Bill's funding relief may mean more contributions
By Doug Halonen; Pensions & Investments ~ Mar 05, 2010

Some employers would have to make additional contributions to their defined benefit plans to qualify for funding relief under a provision in a huge Senate tax and unemployment bill... Read more...

---

McCain calls for new ‘Gang of 14’ to stop Obama push on healthcare
By Alexander Bolton; The Hill ~ Mar 05, 2010

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is seeking bipartisan support to block Senate Democrats from using special parliamentary tactics to pass healthcare reform... Read more...

---

Ten who could decide health care
By Carrie Budoff Brown & Patrick O'Connor; Politico ~ Mar 05, 2010

At this point, a yearlong health reform effort will live or die in Congress by a few votes that go one way or the other, all in the next few weeks...Read more...

---

Obama lobbies wavering Democrats on health care
By Jennifer Haberkorn; The Washington Times ~ Mar 05, 2010

President Obama and top Democrats set out Thursday to thwart defections and solidify support for their health care overhaul bill, focusing on skeptical rank-and-file House Democrats antsy about voting for the unpopular measure and then having to fend off Republican attacks in the midterm elections... Read more...

---

'Congress owes the American people a final vote on healthcare'
By Jeffrey Young & Sam Youngman; The Hill ~ Mar 03, 2010

President Barack Obama launched the endgame on healthcare Wednesday, urging Congress to “finish its work.” Obama said he believes Congress owes the American people a final up-or-down vote on healthcare reform, but did not use the word reconciliation...Read more...

---

Obama Calls for 'Up or Down' Vote on Health
By Laura Meckler & Henry J. Pulizzi; The Wall Street Journal ~ Mar 03, 2010

President Barack Obama, hoping to move the health-care debate to its final stages, called on lawmakers to schedule a vote in the next few weeks... Read more...

---

Opinion: Abuse of Power
From Review & Outlook; The Wall Street Journal ~ Mar 03, 2010

A string of electoral defeats and the great unpopularity of ObamaCare can't stop Democrats from their self-appointed rendezvous with liberal destiny—ramming a bill through Congress on a narrow partisan vote... Read more...

---

Activists in final health care push
By Chris Frates; Politico ~ Mar 02, 2010

President Barack Obama returned health reform to the front burner last week by releasing his own reform proposal and holding a bipartisan White House summit that gave his stalled top domestic priority a much-needed shove toward the finish line. But that momentum could be slowed this week as congressional Democrats wait for Obama to weigh in on the next step...Read more...

---

Obama said poised to offer more healthcare changes
By Patricia Zengerle, RNS; The Washington Post ~ Mar 02, 2010

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will offer changes to his healthcare overhaul this week, the White House said on Monday, and Democrats said they were working to include more ideas advocated by Republicans...Read more...

---

Health bill critics target Democrats
By Jennifer Haberkorn; The Washington Times ~ Mar 02, 2010

Advocacy groups that oppose the health care overhaul bill are taking aim at House Democrats who support President Obama's signature policy item, pouring money into television ads attacking vulnerable lawmakers in conservative-leaning districts... Read more...

---

With or Without Republicans, Democrats Move Forward With Health Care Overhaul
By Huma Khan, Kristina Wong & Jake Tapper; ABC News ~ Mar 01, 2010

Political strategists doubt whether there is enough support among Democrats to pass President Obama's health care legislation, even though House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., expressed confidence Sunday she would eventually have enough House votes to do so... Read more...

---

Hoyer: Raising taxes a realistic option for cutting $12 trillion debt
By Walter Alarkon; The Hill ~ Mar 01, 2010

Tax increases may be necessary to rein in $12 trillion in federal debt, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Monday. Hoyer emphasized the need to reform Social Security and Medicare, but also made it clear that raising taxes will have to be on the table... Read more...

---

Bunning Blockade Leads To 21 Percent Fee Cut For Doctors
By Brian Beutler ; Talking Points Memo ~ Mar 01, 2010

Sen. Jim Bunning is already infamous for blocking a temporary extension of unemployment and COBRA benefits for out of work Americans. But included in that package is legislation to prevent a mandatory pay cut for doctors--and by standing in its way, he's triggered a 21 percent fee reduction to doctors seeing Medicare patients starting today...Read more...

---

McCain bill will aim to split Medicare from reconciliation
By Patrick O’Conner; Politico ~ Feb 28, 2010

On the verge of a procedural fight over health care, Arizona Sen. John McCain, the Republican's presidential nominee in 2008, said Sunday that he plans to introduce legislation that would prevent Congress from changing Medicare through a process that only requires a simple majority in the Senate... Read more...

---

White House: Simple up-or-down vote on health care
By Jim Kuhnhenn, AP; The Albuquerque Journal ~ Feb 28, 2010

The White House called for a "simple up-or-down" vote on health care legislation Sunday as Speaker Nancy Pelosi appealed to House Democrats to get behind President Barack Obama's chief domestic priority even it if threatens their political careers... Read more...

---

Pelosi to Dems: Back health bill even if it hurts
By Charles Babington, AP; The Washington Times ~ Feb 28, 2010

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged her colleagues to back a major overhaul of U.S. health care even if it threatens their political careers, a call to arms that underscores the issue's massive role in this election year...Read more...

---

Dan Balz's Sunday Take: The political divide over the health-care debate
By Dan Balz; The Washington Post ~ Feb 28, 2010

In the aftermath of President Obama's White House health-care summit, it's clear that both sides are certain they are right on substance. Where they differ is over the politics. Democrats and Republicans believe that, in the end, they can win the political argument... Read more...

---

Obama: Compromise on health if GOP is serious
By Erica Werner, AP; The Washington Post ~ Feb 27, 2010

President Barack Obama said Saturday that he's ready to compromise with Republicans if they're serious about it but that his health care overhaul must go forward... Read more...

---

Obama to Announce ‘Way Forward’ on Health-Care Bill Next Week
By Kristin Jensen & Roger Runningen; Bloomberg ~ Feb 27, 2010

President Barack Obama intends to announce a “way forward” next week for his proposal to overhaul the U.S. health-care system, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said... Read more...

---

Biden unveils new rules on U.S. retirement savings
By Matt Spetalnick and Caren Bohan, Reuters - Feb. 26, 2010

Vice President Joe Biden on Friday proposed new rules to help protect U.S. workers' retirement savings as part of a broader government effort to bolster the finances of middle class voters... Read more...

---

The aftermath: Confusion, conflict
By Carrie Budoff Brown; Politico ~ Feb 26, 2010

Democrats wake up after Thursday’s health care summit staring down another deadline to get their bill done, exactly four weeks to Easter break...Read more...

---

Bottom line on health care summit: Dems push ahead
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar & Jennifer Loven, AP; Valley Morning Star ~ Feb 26, 2010

President Barack Obama strongly signaled that Democrats will move forward on a health care overhaul with or without Republicans, preparing his party for a fight whose political outcome will rest with voters in November... Read more...

---