August 2004
C. P. U. C.At this writing, we have not received a response from the California Public Utility Commission to our July 12, 2004 letter advocating fair and equitable treatment for the SBC Corporation as related to the Unbundled Network Element-Program (UNE-p). This issue forces Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers to provide access links to Competitive Local Exchange Carriers at less than actual cost and has jeopardized the quality of life for thousands of California/Nevada Pacific Bell retirees. In addition, these regulatory decisions have forced SBC and other former Bell Companies to undertake harsh measures to control costs resulting in substantial downsizing of the employee work force and a threat to retirees’ future benefits. We continue to seek CPUC support of the SBC UNE-p issue.
UNBUNDLED NETWORK ELEMENT-PLATFORM
The following information was recently provided by Mr. Don Lively, an active member of our retiree association and the principle “gad fly” for the northern California “Citizens Against Regulatory Excesses” organization.
SBC is currently allowed to charge the CLEC’s a rate that is about 60% below the cost of building and maintaining facilities (next to lowest rate in the U.S.). West Virginia is a low cost of living state…they allow $29 versus California’s $14. The CLEC’s currently mark up the UNE-p about 45% when they re-brand and resell to SBC’s former subscribers.
These out of state “carpetbaggers” aren’t spending a nickel of capital expense, nor is the PUC doing anything significant with this UNE-p increase, about the fact that SBC had to cut its construction program in new technologies from $3 billion in 2000, to about $900 million in 2003.
This CPUC UNE-p increase is not going to cost current SBC California subscribers an extra penny. Only subscribers getting “re-branded dial tone” from the CLEC’s if they file for new rates.
Don Lively suggests that all of our members be reminded of this inequity in rate structure and to “pass it along” to those in authority at every opportunity.
September 4, 2004
“THE LAW OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES”
Twenty years ago (this year), the federal government ordered the break up of the Bell System under the guise of “open competition.” Has the public been well served by this egregious “take away” of private assets? A cursory review of present day telephone subscribers’ communication costs would suggest otherwise.
Greatly increased monthly service charges, tripled service installation fees, the elimination of all “company” public offices, no free repair service visits, the inability to reach a service representative or repair clerk without the confusing “voice mail system,” a monthly bill that is no longer a simple, easily understood statement, information calls that are no longer “free,” telephone instruments that are no longer provided by the serving company and not replaced if you suffer a home fire.
While new and innovative communication systems are being introduced through proven technologies, we must recognize the tremendous contributions made to telephony by the former Bell Telephone Laboratories. Indeed, the beginning of outer space communications began with the Bell System’s Telestar experiments many years ago.
The outcome of the present CPUC hearings involving the UNE-p issue may well determine the availability and associated costs to subscribers for their basic and long distance services.
The TelCo Retirees Association, Inc., which represents thousands of Pacific Bell retirees, urges the Commission to expedite an early decision on this critical issue that will be fair and reasonable to the Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers and to its many users.
…“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back…and always ineffectiveness.” Goethe.
Sumner K. Emery, President
General Membership Meetings
New information is forthcoming.
UNITED HEALTH CARE
Effective July 1, 2004
The Association of Ameritech/SBC Retirees (AASBCR) recently undertook an effort to clarify the details of a 7 page booklet recently mailed to Medical Expense Plan (MEP) qualified retirees. (Many of the TelCo Retirees Association, Inc. members have expressed some concern about our new health plan provider.)
Here, for your information, are the results of their investigation:
Some hospitals and doctors are not a part of the United Health Care program. But for the MEP retirees, there are no coverage differences from the past nor is there any need to change physicians or other health care providers for those having Medicare as their primary insurance.
MEP coverage remains unchanged because it is an INDEMNITY PLAN. (This appears to be a new label for what’s been known for 30 years or more as “Fee-for-service.” INDEMNITY PLANS NORMALLY REQUIRE YOU TO PAY YOUR MEDICAL CARE PROVIDER FOR SERVICES AND THEN FILE CLAIMS TO BE REIMBURSED BY THE PLAN. (EXCLUDING MEDICARE ELIGIBLE RETIREES.)
In an Indemnity Plan you can seek care from any doctor and hospital and receive benefits. Hospital pre-certification is required for some services to receive the highest level of benefits (if you are not eligible for Medicare). The plan reimburses for covered medical services according to the plan’s provisions as long as the expenses are reasonable and customary.
As to doctors or hospitals who aren’t affiliated with United Health Care, there will be no problem when Medicare is one’s primary insurance. This is because health care providers bill Medicare, not United Health Care.
Medical Expense Plan
If you are enrolled in the Medical Expense, here’s what you pay for covered medical services:
Annual deductible - 1% of your full annual pension ($25.00 minimum, $150 maximum).
Co-Insurance for Most Covered Services
The plan pays 80% to 100% of the reasonable and customary (R&C) charges after you pay the deductible.
Annual out-of-pocket maximum, not including the deductible
$5,000.00 per person
Lifetime maximum
$75,000.00
If you would like additional information about the United Health Care Plan, the Association of Ameritech/SBC Retirees suggests the following:
A. The best way to talk with a “human” via the SBC connect voice mail at 1-877-722-0020 is saying, “Other Benefit Questions” when that option is offered. Then, do not answer when voice mail asks for your PIN or Password…let it repeat…time will pass…then you will be connected to a live person.
B. Calling United Health Care or looking at their website is not helpful.
C. For more on the “Indemnity Plan” follow these steps:
1. Click on http://resources.hewitt.com/sbc, then follow these steps
a. Log in as required (obtaining a password if necessary) then and there.
b. This will bring up a page with your personal data
c. Scrolll down to “Learn More: Benefits manual-health insurance” then click on it.
d. This will take you to a page where, near the bottom, under “How Plans work” and find MEDICAL PLAN OVERVIEW..click on it
e. Then on the next page that comes up, scroll down until you find
“Medical Plans Options: Indemnity Plan”…click on that.
f. Finally, these words appear (cut and pasted from the website pages): “SBC Communications Inc. Benefits Manual.”
GOOD LUCK!
KAISER HMO
As a result of a number of inquiries from members concerning their Kaiser health plan and the level of service being provided as well as the financial co-pays of their health plan, I recently sought information from our SBC Health Benefit organization. Here, for your information, was SBC’s response to my inquiry.
“The California HMO (Kaiser) is governed by an external party, the California Department of Managed Care…not SBC. Any claim against the Kaiser HMO would need to be addressed and forwarded to them for investigation. We would suggest that retirees who have been unsatisfied with the Kaiser HMO Health Care, review the Annual Health Care Enrollment Options available in the fall of this year because SBC does offer other health plans. SBC does oversee our relationship with all medical plans but we are not physicians and do not make clinician assessments.”
(You may reach the California Department of Managed Health Care at 888-HMO-2219 for Consumer HMO Complaints or you may write to: Department of Managed Health Care, California HMO Help Center, 980 Ninth St., Suite 500, Sacramento, CA 95814-2725.
Click here for MS Word version of this Newsletter.
©2004-2005 TelCo Retirees Association, Inc.
