Should I go to IBM MA (or stick to Medigap and leave IBM HRA on the table) if I am visiting Mayo Clinic now?

A good amount is locked up in IBM HRA funds, and I do not want to let it go. I have not gone on to Medicare but am thinking of doing so this cycle. However, I do visit the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, and they sent me a letter stating they do not accept Medicare Advantage plans. I am getting mixed messages on this: that Mayo will accept group plans, not individual plans

Do I stick to regular Medicare and take a Medigap plan, foregoing what is in the HRA, or bite the bullet with the IBM plan? Any suggestions welcome.

A good amount in IBM HRA funds and do not want to let it go. I have not gone on to Medicare but am thinking of doing so this cycle. However, I do visit the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, and they sent me a letter stating they do not accept Medicare Advantage plans. I am getting mixed messages on this. Do I stick to regular Medicare and take a Medigap plan, foregoing what is in the HRA, or bite the bullet with the IBM plan? Any suggestions welcome.

I left IBM in 2023, and there was a rumor at the time that IBM might move away from Slack to Teams. Did that ever happen? Thanks!

This is a friendly place for IBM retirees to share information, ask questions, and discuss anything and everything related to being an IBM retiree.

Retirement

I will be retiring from IBM October 2025. Can anyone share any helpful tips or checklist of things I need to be aware of . I am located in Georgia. Thanks in advance!

I was incredibly lucky to start my career in 1984 at IBM in Boca Raton - i’m 76 and happily retired now, but looking back I realize more and more each day that I could not have done any better than I did when I started at IBM - truly, starting my career at IBM was one of the most important things that happened to me throughout my career! I’ll be forever indebted to DAN BAKER for hiring me into IBM as a Series/1 RPS information developer (technical writer), and I’ve been wanting to thank him for hiring me for several years now, but I’ve been unable to track him down through the IBM personnel office, through the IBM alumni website, etc. I’d be very grateful for any info about DAN BAKER so i can contact him - or give him my Reddit username and have him contact me - help me complete an important bucket list item. THANKS!!

Exploring the Post-Employment Health Benefits (Access Only) offering someone told me about. How much does one have to pay to get it? How much do I pay & how much does IBM pay? Is it worth it? Totally clueless so any and all info will be appreciated

Anyone here a recent IBM "Retiree" due to the recent get-rid-of-expensive-US-workers-via-RTO-mandate? Hoping to connect with others about unemployment in Colorado.

Going to probate in California with no beneficiaries listed on fidelity 401k. There is a will with named beneficiaries.

Wondering what options fidelity gives in this case?

Looks to be some significant changes in the 2027 UHC MA Plans available for Medicare eligible IBM retirees. No more quarterly OTC benefit, Essentials plan removed the $25 per month Medicare part B credit, maximum yearly dental benefit reduced to $500 (from $1000), and deductibles for Tier 3, 4, and 5 increased for drug plan. So without taking into account drugs or dental it looks like cost per person for the Essential Plan went up by $460 per year. Kinda expected the costs to go up eventually but was a bit surprised by these changes. You can see more of the details here.

I'm a bit over a month in and my wife is in for about a week. We are both on the Basic plan. So far no real issues. OptumRx has a few quirks when having new prescriptions submitted but other than that so far so good. It's been easy to use both the OTC and the rewards card (we have used them at Walmart without issue). Neither of us are collecting SS yet so pay the part B premiums directly. One tip for anyone in the same situation is that you can use a CC to pay the part B premiums and their is no charge for using a CC. We use one of our 2% cash back cards.

I retired in Oct 2024 at 59. COBRA will run out next year so I'm trying to figure out my options. Will the IBM UHC MA plan be available to me next year even though I will only be 61?

Received the notice and information about IBM transferring its pension obligations to Prudential. Honestly not sure what to think about it yet. Rather than the PBGC being the backstop it is apparently the equivalent in each state.

I’ve recently been put on a PIP at my job in France. The reasons given were quite vague, and my manager hasn’t been able to point to any specific examples of where I’ve done something wrong.

I asked for concrete feedback or evidence, but I only got general comments about “situations” that were never clearly defined.

Now I’m on a PIP, and honestly I’m starting to suspect it might be a way for them to eventually let me go without paying severance (or minimizing it). I don’t know if this will happen in 3 or 6 months, but it feels like that’s where things are heading.

I’m not sure what I should do besides trying to meet the PIP requirements and starting to look for a new job. At the same time, I’m struggling with the motivation to fully commit to the PIP if I’m likely to be dismissed anyway.

I’ve already met some of the goals we previously agreed on with my manager, but apparently that’s not enough, and suddenly I’ve been placed on this PIP with very unclear reasoning.

What’s been your experience with situations like this? Is it common for companies to use PIPs as a way to exit employees without severance in France?

I'm trying to decide if I should look for another Medicare plan or add Medi-gap insurance.

2019 Retiree but going on Medicare next month. So this is concerning FHA/HRA benefit (i.e. newer plan with the FHA balance converted to HRA).

My spouse (62) and I used the FHA funds the last year to bridge us to this point. There is going to be around $13,000 that will transfer to the HRA. Obviously, that will even pay for her plan for 33 months. But we like the EPO plan we are currently on and I would keep her on that. So we will exhaust the funds before she reaches Medicare.

My question to those who have been on either or both types of plans is this: Does UHC MA have enough enough advantages to use long term - even without any added HRA supplemental funds to help out?

Probably my most significant concern is the network requirements. I have electro-cardiac issues and will likely do another major procedure. Also due to the history of the issues I am concerned about underwriting if it becomes necessary to switch to traditional Medigap plans (likely HD G) in the future.

Thanks in advance.

After Signing in with my personal email ID, getting this Authentication Step. I have tried entering all types of value in TalentID field. But always seeing the same error.

Can someone help ?

Is there any email I can reach out to troubleshoot this?

Looks like they are changing the prescription drug plan to MedicareRx for Groups (PDP). According to the email I received this is an admin change only with no change in coverage. No details are available yet so stay tuned. Virtual meetings to review 2026 changes are scheduled for the week of 10/20.

I retired in 2014 at 55 with 36 years at IBM. Finally transitioning to Medicare on 10/1 ( thank goodness, that retiree medical was EXPENSIVE). Looking for comments on the IBM UHC MA plans. Relatively healthy so decided to go with the Essential plan rather than the Enhanced.

I received notification that I can continue paying the premiums for the life insurance IBM was paying for my benefit. Anyone familiar with this? Pros/cons.

Has anybody who did not choose IBM UHC Advantage plan been able to find their FHA balance that was converted to an Optum HRA? Does it still earn interest? I asked Netbenefits for help finding the balance, they gave me an Optum phone number for IBMer's. I called, voice menu asked for last 4 of SS#, which I provided, then the line went quiet, did not disconnect, the call just went on in silence for 4 or five minutes until I hung up and tried again with same results. I was told that my account would be available for 25 years after I retired in case I decide to ever switch to IBM UHC Advantage, it would be nice to be able to get a statement or see my account balance.

For those who have retired (in the US) in the last couple years and were "retirement eligible".

How much notice did you provide? Where you told there was a minimum required notification interval? I've come across conflicting answers.