WWW RETIREES LINKS

An AARP membership opens up a whole new world. You'll have the resources and information you need to get the most out of life over 50. Access to exclusive travel discounts - up to 30% on rental cars and up to 50% on hotels, just for being a member. And much more!
You can travel the world at substantial savings.
Your AARP travel discounts can pay for your membership with just one booking.

  • Save at thousands of hotels, motels and resorts worldwide.
  • Save on airfares, cruises, auto rentals, vacation packages.


And that's not all! You get important information you won't find elsewhere.
AARP brings you guidance you can trust to help you make smart financial, health, career and retirement decisions.

AARP The Magazine, delivered bimonthly, is packed with fascinating features on health & fitness, food, work, money, travel and more.
  • The AARP Bulletin keeps you informed on current legislation and issues that affect you most.
  • AARP Health guides are yours free.
  • The AARP Web site, www.aarp.org, gives you instant information and member benefit updates.
  • Free Spouse/Partner membership.
Edward Jones Retirement Information


YVONNE M LIGUORI
Edward Jones Investment Representative
1284 US ROUTE 302 SUITE 2
BARRE, VT 05641
(802) 476-2323
www.edwardjones.com

Whether you want to plan for retirement, save for college, reduce your tax bills or just require extra income to meet monthly expenses, you can expect personalized service and information on investing in quality investments for the long-term. Call or stop by my office today.
Verizon Retirement Watch

This site is a joint project of the Pension Rights Center and the Communications Workers of America. Together we hope to help Verizon employees respond to this unfair and unprecedented decision. In the recent past, employees of IBM, Verizon, and other corporations, working together, have mobilized to change employer decisions that would have dashed their expectations for a secure retirement. Now, working together, we can mobilize to stop the Company's plan to freeze your benefits.
The Association of Bell Retirees Inc.

A complete overview of Verizon retiree and active employee retirement issues, press releases, press from around the world covering issues of interest to their members.

My Turn: AARP will fight for Social Security

By Nancy C. Lang state president, AARP Vermont.

The American people are more vigilant than ever. We are ready to take on anything that threatens our security, our future or our values. All of these are at stake in the debate over the future of Social Security.
VERIZON BENEFITS & MEDICARE - YOUR ACTION MAY BE REQUIRED

Dear [Verizon Participant]:

Verizon is working with its health plans to ensure Verizon health care benefits are properly coordinated with Medicare Part A and Part B. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently confirmed that you and/or your eligible dependent(s) are enrolled in Medicare Part A, but are NOT enrolled in Medicare Part B. These family members are shown above. As a result, your Verizon health plan may not be properly coordinating your Verizon benefits with Medicare. Therefore, this letter is to inform you of the updates that will be taking place to your Verizon health care coverage, and to offer you assistance in enrolling in Medicare Part B.

Beginning no later than March 1, 2006, your Verizon medical benefits will be administered as though you have Medicare Part B coverage. If you do not have Medicare Part B coverage by March 1, 2006, you will be responsible for the expenses that Medicare otherwise would have paid.*

Some Verizon medical plans do not coordinate coverage with Medicare. If you are currently enrolled in a plan that does not coordinate with Medicare, the Verizon Benefit Center (VBC) will send a notice to you showing your new Medicare-coordinating medical plan. This notice will be sent by March 1, 2006. If you wish to elect a different Medicare-coordinating plan, follow the instructions on the VBC notice.

To assist you in enrolling in Medicare Part B, Verizon has contracted with SSDC, a company specializing in Medicare-related services. You are not required to use SSDC’s services, but because the Medicare Part B enrollment process requires a number of forms to be completed, and can take several months, Verizon is providing SSDC’s service to you at no cost. If you wish to begin your Medicare Part B enrollment with SSDC’s assistance:
  • Have each family member shown above sign all three forms in the enclosed Medicare Part B Enrollment Package by the red check marks. Separate forms are provided for each family member. Please leave the yellow highlighted areas blank - the dates will be completed by SSDC when your application is filed with Social Security.
  • Return the signed forms to SSDC using the enclosed business reply envelope (no postage required).
  • SSDC will notify you when your application has been filed with Social Security.
To assure that your Part B is effective by March 1, 2006, these forms must be completed and sent to SSDC within 30 days from the date of this letter. SSDC will continue to process enrollment forms received after this date; however, your Part B enrollment may not be effective by March 1, 2006, and consequently, you will be responsible for expenses that Medicare otherwise would have paid.*

Attached is a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Medicare and the need for being enrolled in Medicare Part B. If you have additional questions about enrolling in Medicare Part B, please contact SSDC at 1-800-374-9950 (ext. 222) to speak with a Verizon Medicare Representative. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Sincerely,

Donna Chiffriller
Vice President - Benefits

*Important: You may elect to not enroll in Medicare Part B, or you may elect to enroll without SSDC’s services - a company Verizon contracts with to provide Medicare-related services. Whether or not you enroll in Medicare Part B, your health claims will be processed assuming you have Medicare Part B coverage beginning no later than March 1, 2006. In other words, Verizon will pay secondary to Medicare. If you do not have Medicare Part B coverage, you will be responsible for expenses that Medicare Part B otherwise would have paid. If you have additional (non-Verizon) medical coverage, you should consult your advisor.
  1. Q: What does Medicare cover?
    A: Medicare Part A provides coverage for hospital services including room and board, skilled nursing facility care, home health care, and hospice care. Medicare Part B provides coverage for outpatient services and certain medical supplies.
  2. Q: Why should I have Medicare Part B?
    A: Verizon’s medical plans coordinate with Medicare. Verizon’s medical plan will determine the benefit amount it would pay if there was no other coverage, and then subtract any benefit you are or would be eligible to receive from both Medicare Parts A and B. If you are not enrolled in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, you will be responsible for expenses that Medicare otherwise would have paid.
  3. Q: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) told me that I don’t have to enroll in Part B, why is Verizon telling me I should have this coverage?
    A: Part B is a voluntary benefit from Medicare’s perspective. However, Verizon’s medical plans pay claims assuming Medicare pays first, therefore, you should be enrolled in Part B to maximize your Verizon benefits.
  4. Q: What happens if I delay enrollment into Medicare Part B?
    A: If you delay your enrollment into Medicare Part B you may be assessed a late enrollment fee. The penalty amount is added to your Medicare Part B monthly premium. The amount of the penalty increases the longer you wait to enroll. In addition, you will be responsible for expenses that Medicare otherwise would have paid (until your Medicare Part B becomes effective).
  5. Q: How are claims filed after enrolling in Medicare Part B?
    A: Use your Medicare ID card each time you visit your physician or medical facility. Ask your physician and/or medical facility to submit your claims directly to Medicare. Medicare will send payment directly to your physician or medical facility. After Medicare pays your claim, your Verizon plan will pay the difference, if any, between what Medicare paid and what the Verizon health plan would have paid, provided that no other coverage applies.
  6. Q: What happens if I ask SSDC to help me enroll in Medicare Part B?
    A: A number of things will happen:
    • Upon receiving the signed forms, SSDC will file your Part B enrollment (DSEP) with Social Security.
    • After your application has been filed with Social Security, Verizon will continue to cover you in your current health plan on a temporary basis until your Part B effective date is confirmed. By March 1, 2006 at the latest, you will be in a Verizon medical plan that coordinates with Medicare.
    • After Social Security processes your application, they will send either a new Medicare card or a Notice of Change in Benefits to you. The new Medicare card will show your Medicare Part B entitlement date. The Notice of Change in Benefits will confirm your Medicare Part B entitlement date and the premium amount that will be deducted from your next Social Security check.
    • Important: When you receive your new Medicare card or a Notice of Change in Benefits, you will need to confirm your Medicare Part B effective date by contacting SSDC at 1-800-374-9950 (ext. 222) to speak with a Verizon Medicare Representative. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
    • If you have not elected a Medicare plan prior to your Part B effective date, you will be moved into your company sponsored plan. If you wish to change to a different Verizon plan that coordinates with Medicare, the Verizon Benefits Center will provide you with your choices. Note: Medicare Advantage plans require additional time to enroll and forms to be completed. If you wish to be enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan offered by Verizon, please allow sufficient time to enroll in it.