Are there particular qualifications,to be in good standing with C.R's Honeybuns? I am one, 68-2,put out to pasture 5 yrs. ago. Does Sandy Berry remember me?

Thanks for the memories~~~~~

Susan Harrigan,
Drop Georgette Ross a e- mail at _rskygirl@aol.com_
(mailto:rskygirl@aol.com) . she wants your e-mail address. thank you

Susan
drop me an e-mail. GEORGETTE ROSS at _rskygirl@aol.com_
(mailto:rskygirl@aol.com) . would love to hear from you.

Pats dinner party was a huge sucess. Sorry you all missed it!

I would have been there, but you neglected to give us the address!!?? I'm happy that it was a success.


Susan Harrigan




< replied-to message removed by QT >

To All Active and Retired F/A's
 
APFA is going back into negotiations with the company with one of the issues on the table being retiree medical. The Company wants the Union to agree to the same terms and conditions as the non-union retirees age 65 and older or once on Medicare who will now pay 25% for that insurance effective Jan. 1, 2010.
They also are losing their Supplemental Medical once on Medicare.
 
This is the time to make your voices heard as to what is important to you during these negotiations. Making us pay 25% of our Retiree Medical is NOT something we want to see especially when on a fixed income. Go to www.APFA.org ornegotiate@apfa.org and let your opinions be heard. All Active F/A's will be retirees one day. Making ends meet is not easy as there is no picking up an extra trip! The Union also welcomes retiree comments!
 
Thanks for your support! Please send this on to other F/A's who may not be a member of this e-group.
 
Carol Behling Retired F/A LAX-I

The correct e-mail address is negotiate08@apfa.org. Please do not wait, thinking that someone else will do it. They need volume.

this is the correct email address in regard to the previous message.
                  peggy

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THE FOLLOWING 3 POSTS INRE RETIREE MEDICAL!

Hi All,

I have to agree with Barbara. Keep your Golden Wings Medical as we don't know what is going to happen to our Retiree Medical in negotiations! That why it is so important to write an email to the negotiating team and voice your opinion. We can't let the Company win this one as it will affect ALL of us, Active and Retired. There is strength in numbers so support the Union's fight to keep our retiree medical as is - FREE, since we all pre-fund(ed)!!!. Email the team at negotiate08@apfa.org Read Barbara's comments below!

Carol Behling

I would guess that everyone who carries Wings Supplemental Insurance has received their premium bill with its increase to $540. Do not cancel this insurance due to the raise in price.

Let me explain. There was some information going around about our Retiree Insurance and it triggered a memory for me from the Union Book of the 2001 Contract.. It took me awhile to get around to tracking it down, but I finally did. I then talked with Patrick Hancock who is the Retirement specialist for APFA.
I asked if Retiree Insurance was on the negotiation table and he said20yes. He is hopeful that it will not be a part of the contract, and we will stay status quo as now.

This is what American has presented in negotiations. Right now our Retiree Medical under United Health Care is free, as you pre funded while active. What they want now is to cut out some of the cost of Health Insurance by cutting anyone at 65 and over out of the plan. They will make sure that everyone that wanted it would get Medigap coverage. Those under 65 would pay a portion of the premium until age 65 then go on the Medigap.

If you are also carrying TPA Health First Supplemental ( the $60 per year $500,000 coverage) that kicks in when your $50,000 is used would also be gone as it is held by American Airlines.

So for the time being until the contract has been resolved hopefully without the cutback, keep your Wings supplemental coverage to Medicare in effect.

You can go to the Web site for information on negotiations, etc. at www.apfa.com

Also the PBGC web site is very informative as to our protection of retirement pay benefits...

I don't mean to be a "scare baby", but I was told today that there are 20 companies on a possible Chapter 11 List, and American was there. Upper Management enjoys their bonuses way to much to claim bankruptcy so I am hoping this is wrong.

Many of you may already have this information, but I felt it=2 0was important to pass on.

Take good care all!

Fondest Regards,

Barbara Schutz

How sad to even think the supplemental insurance is even being considered. My husband is very sick with stomach cancer and I am counting on the secondary, United Healthcare, and TPA Supplemental to get us through all of the Bills. If this goes through would those already counting on this additional insurance be cancelled as well. We are going to need this coverage very soon. The Bills are mounting, and medicare doesn't cover everything.

I wanted to share with Barbara Fritsch and everyone the value and importance of retaining our retiree benefits, including supplemental. My husband was a retired pilot with AA when he found out he had a malignant tumor. He was already Medicare age. His treatment took almost 8 months and fortunately, he is now cancer free. That was 2 years ago and we are just now finishing up on insurance coverage. He exhausted his lifetime benefit with UHC during this process and although Medicare covered quite a bit, he still had to use his Healthfirst supplemental policy to cover quite substantial co-pays. Also, in this whole process, I found out that there was some dental and eye coverage for me as his spouse on his Healthfirst policy!

This is a very disturbing point in time for all active AND retired f/a's. I urge EVERYONE to express their outrage towards AA through our union. Send your email to APFA NOW! And, Barbara, please don't give up hope......together we will fight this.....for your husband AND for all of us.

To Inquiring minds: From Jill Frank Smoak
 
I have good news and bad news regarding the comments below. Retirement consists of two categories: Pension and Benefits. The scenario described (contractual changes) regarding pension is accurate - nothing short of a bankruptcy can alter the pension one is receiving (or has accrued for active people) and then there is PBGC protection which is generally sufficient to cover a FA pension.
 
Health benefits do not have the same protection. I do not think Laura and our team will give up without a fight here but - IF APFA negotiates a change in retiree coverage with APFA it could easily apply to those of us who are already out here. The groups who are currently impacted DID pre-fund, but they gave it up in the consensual rape of benefits in 2003. We (APFA) believed that prefunding would hold the line for us, but then in 2007 AA tried to implement changes in retiree coverage on the premise that although we had negotiated coverage there was no guarantee that it would be the remain the same as it had been. We disputed it and there was agreement to make the issue part of bargaining. So, our health coverage is very much on the table, and yes, it could apply to those of us who have already retired.
 
They (APFA) could also attempt to 'grandfather' those who are retired (like a backwards B scale) but I don't know if they would be successful since AA has imposed it upon the already retired in the other groups. The imposed change applies to over 65 who have Medicare - we are already required to pick up Medicare A, B and D when we turn 65 (increasing monthly costs to about $200+ per person) and now they are trying to get us to be responsible for any additional coverage. Since the AA coverage is reduced to $50,000 that is not a huge amount of coverage, I suspect they were spending a gigantic amount administering this, and they wish to be done with that relationship (think of all the HR people they won't need if we each fall off the books at 65). In a perfect world they are negotiating with UHC to create a policy that will be inexpensive, then the Supplemental would remain in place, because without some coverage I'm afraid that the supplemental (and possibly Golden Wings) will no longer cover us since they are both predicated on the theory that you have AA coverage.
 
So, I am very concerned, I realize that my comments above sound like I think it may happen, I don't necessarily think that, BUT if we ended up in arbitration like we did after the strike in 1993 I see this as the trend in the country, plus there does seem to be a move away from corporate sponsored benefits. So, I am closely watching and hoping that we will hold on but it is not a guarantee.

Hi all: In response to Jill's msg and others re: Golden Wings. Several years ago when AA was tettering, I called Golden Wings and asked what would happen if AA went under, would I lose my supplemental with G.W. and the man said no but that the premium would probably go up. Of course, I do not have the person's name nor do I have that in writing but I think that I will give them a call this next week and see what they say then I will repost a msg.

Marion Donovan

Hi Casey,
I think I will call TPA and see if AA decides to dump the retirees if we would still be covered with an additional fee, just like GW's. I would be willing to pay a little more since I have no other choice and no one would cover my husband now.

This is from Carol Behling:

 
Hi Everyone,
 
The following is an email from Jill Frank Smoak who is a very bright lady and someone whose opinion I respect. She voices her thoughts on the possibility of losing our retiree medical in great detail, but she is NOT saying it WILL happen. May I reiterate the necessity to write an email to the negotiating team and let them know how you feel about this and any other issue on the table at negotiate08@apfa.org . Additionally, Golden Wings is sending out a survey to everyone asking if you are part of the non-union group who are subject to changes to their retiree medical effective 1/1/2010. Do NOT respond to this letter if you are not a part of this group. They are just trying to get a count of how many people are involved so that they can make a decision on how to handle this group.
 
All of this is alarming and we should be prepared, but don't become overwhelmed by anticipation. To quote a dear friend, "the worst determent to happiness is anticipation." Therefore, stay informed by visiting www.APFA.org , get involved, write your emails but stay optimistic. The Company is probably gloating over the chaos they have created. Let them see our strength.
 
Carol Behling Retired F/A LAX-I

the following is from the LAXI baseline message board and talks about the Golden Wings insurance (for those who have it)


1.
Golden Wings and Re:American Wants Unions to Agree to Same Cuts in R
Posted by: "ccdj4b" CCDJ4B@aol.com caroltbehling
Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:59 am (PDT)



To All Retirees and Friend of Retirees,

I am reading everything I can find on the new changes to the non-union retirees effective 1/1/2010 and so far everything that Carole Peck, DFW said in the following email is correct. I have also talked to the owner of Golden Wings and asked about how these changes are going to affect those non-union members who elected Golden Wings Supp. Medical when they retired. He said that they are still in talks regarding this and do not know what they are going to do just yet. Since the changes are not in effect until January, Golden Wings has some time to come up with a solution. I will let you know as soon as I get any information from the owner of Golden Wings as it may affect ALL of us. I suggest, in the meantime, that you do NOT give up your Golden Wings Supp. Medical policy even with the increased premium and annual deductible.. Until this is all straightened out and we see how negotiations go for Union members regarding retiree medical, I think this $600,000 worth of extra Medical coverage with Golden Wings is a good to have. I will resend the detailed info on renewing your Golden Wings Supp. Medical which is due on October 1, 2009 for the year 2010. There is a 30 day GRACE period to get your check in which will end on October 31, 2009.

Please forward to those who may not be a member of this e-group. Thank you!

Carol Behling Retired F/A LAX-I

In a message dated 09/26/09 04:32:37 Pacific Daylight Time, cpecksanders@gmail.com writes:
Hi Pam!

My Brother in Law is retired AA management. He *did* prefund the Standard Retiree Medical and from what he and my sister have been told, AA is simply refunding any unused portions of his "prefunding". He and my sister also have paid for the "supplemental" insurance with Health First in Tyler TX (which is just an administrator for AA) and that too is now gone. My sister is 59 and will have no medical insurance after January 1st.

They have not yet received the official letter from AA (mailed 9 days ago from what they understand), but my sister has picked up some information on line about the expensive options they can now buy.

Like you, I was under the impression that I had a "contract" with AA for free standard retiree medical and the right to purchase supplemental insurance. I am now somewhat skeptical. If the APFA negotiating committee chooses to give our medical insurance away I suspect there is nothing we can do about it. If Patrick Hancock sees this, perhaps he could weigh in with an opinion ?

What we stand to lose (after age 65) is the $50,000 UHC secondary insurance and the Health First supplemental. I understand from Carol B. that "Golden Wings" is still undecided as to their course of action.

I have sent an email to the APFA negotiating committee urging them not to give in to any changes. Not sure how that will go.

Carol Peck
DFW (retired)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Messages in this topic (1)
2a.
Re: RETIREES - Annual Billing for Golden Wings Supp. Medical Insuran
Posted by: "ccdj4b" CCDJ4B@aol.com caroltbehling
Sat Sep 26, 2009 9:43 am (PDT)



Hi Everyone!

Below are the details regarding the annual billing for Golden Wings Supp. Medical Insurance for retirees. In light of all that is happening with the AA non-union retirees losing their pre-funded AA $50K and pre-funded Supp. Medical $500,000 without electing to now PAY for this coverage when they go on Medicare as of 1/1/2010, and the Company now wanting Union members to do the same, I suggest that you do NOT drop your Golden Wings Supp. Medical policy even with the increased premium and deductible. APFA is in negotiations regarding these retiree medical issues, so let your opinions be heard by sending an email to negotiate08@apfa.org . We cannot lose these pre-funded benefits! Once retired, it is hard enough making ends meet on a fixed income without having to PAY for our secondary coverage from AA after qualifying for Medicare!

I have spoken to the owner of Golden Wings and asked how they are going to handle those non-union members who elected the Golden Wings Supp. Medical Insurance coverage when they retired, as now Union members may be facing the same surmise He said that they are still in talks regarding this and will have a solution by the time these changes go into effect on 1/1/2010 for the non-union members. As soon as Golden Wings has come up with a solution, I will let you know. In the meantime, I suggest you get your check to Golden Wings to cover the annual bill for Golden Wings Supp. Medical for 2010. It is due on Oct. 1, 2009, but there is a 30 day GRACE period which ends on Oct., 31, 2009. In my opinion, the extra $600,000 worth of medical coverage from Golden Wings is good to have especially since we do not know the outcome of the APFA negotiations regarding our retiree medical.

Please forward this email on to those who may not be a member of this e-group. Thank you.

Carol Behling, Retired F/A LAX-I
Hi Everyone

The annual billing for the Retirees Golden Wings Supplemental (Medical) Insurance Plan has been sent out. ( I received mine yesterday, so watch for it in the mail) You will only get this billing if you elected to sign up for this insurance within 31 days of your retirement date. You cannot sign up after that time frame.

Here are the particulars:

There is another increase of $90 for the year 2010 due to Healthcare costs skyrocketing as well as retirees maxing out their $50,000 American Airlines Coverage at an alarming rate.

Cost per person: $540 for the year 2010
Due Date: October 1, 2009 with a 30 day GRACE PERIOD after which you will forfeit your policy
Send: Check or money order payable to Golden Wings Supplemental Insurance Plan and mail to this address:

Golden Wings Supplemental Insurance Plan
389 Linwood Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14209

Be certain to add your Retiree ID Number and Policy Number on your check and send it along with your payment stub in the envelope provided. Remember that if you elect to drop this coverage and you signed up for the Golden Wings Dental Plan, you will lose that dental coverage as you must be a part of the Medical Plan to keep your Dental Plan coverage.

I know that this is a lot of money to put out at one time, but it is only $45 a month per person for an extra $600,000 worth of extra medical insurance, not to mention that their Dental Plan which is underwritten by Cigna is excellent and most inexpensive coverage. To date, there are no plans that I know of where we could make monthly payments which would be easier for all of us! Any questions, call Golden Wings at 1-800-521-2510

Please forward this on to retiree who may not be a part of this e-group! Thank you!

Carol Behling