LRO Board Meets in Dallas, TX

April 25, 2018

In our Fall 2017 newsletter, we discussed A Plan Forward for the LRO. This included the suspension of annual dues, simplification of our website, the discontinuation of our newsletter and cancellation of regional meetings. We stated that all future correspondence would be via the website or by email blast.

We cited the pension buyout, declining activity at our website, and fewer questions raised by members, as well as other factors leading to the decision to phase back operations.

The LRO Board met again in Dallas on April 25 to continue these discussions. President Joe Dombrowski reported that we continue to see a decline in activity at our website as well as questions from members, most of which are best answered by and referred to the Nokia Pension Service center 888-232-4111.

After much discussion of all factors, the Board unanimously agreed to the following resolution: “Over the course of the next several months, a plan for dissolution will be developed on the basis that the Lucent Retiree Organization (LRO) has accomplished the objectives that were attainable and will anticipate ceasing to operate on or before October 1, 2020.” During this period, we will strive to maintain, as long as possible, our website and continue to monitor pension, Group Life Insurance and healthcare provided by Nokia.

It was noted that the primary legal filings for dissolution will include notification to the IRS and the States of New York and New Jersey. The Board approved securing legal services in connection with the dissolution.

The Board reviewed the current membership levels which includes 13,305 active members, 2,261 inactive and 301 Lifetime members.

The next discussion dealt with the recommendations concerning the need to downsize the Board as we move toward dissolution. It was determined that reduction will take place in three phases: We will immediately eliminate five members, primarily regional directors and at-large directors. A second reduction would occur at the end of 2018, leaving the current officers plus two more members for a total of five Board members.

The next subject discussed was the current status of our pensions based on the 20F filling by Nokia for 2017. An analysis will be provided to members by email after we receive the Annual Funding notice in late May 2018. Our pension plans are adequately funded and when combined with post-retirement benefits, total assets are slightly in excess of total obligations.

The Board received a report on the current activities of the NRLN including the recent Washington fly-in to meet with elected representatives. NRLN priorities for the year include pension reform, prescription drugs, and Social Security and Medicare protection.

The entire LRO Board sends its thanks to all of our members who have supported the LRO over the years in our efforts to represent the interests of our retirees and protect our benefits.

LRO President Joe Dombrowski and the LRO Board of Directors

A message from MEDICARE.GOV

Tips from Medicare: Stroke warning signs

Do you know the warning signs of a stroke? May is Stroke Awareness Month, a perfect time to arm yourself with information to help prevent and detect a stroke—for both you and your loved ones. Warning signs of a stroke include:

Weakness in the face, arm, or leg
Speech difficulty
Vision loss
Dizziness
Brief loss of consciousness

Are you or a loved one at risk for a stroke? Watch our short video to learn the risk factors for stroke and see how Medicare can help.

Sincerely,
The Medicare Team

Find out the status of your new Medicare card

You may have heard that we started mailing new Medicare cards to everyone with Medicare. Hang tight — mailing takes some time across the country, and you might get your card at a different time than friends or neighbors in your state.

We’ve got 3 ways for you to find out when you should expect your new Medicare card in the mail:

Check out the map on Medicare.gov/NewCard. Keep coming back to check the status of card mailings in your state. Remember, once card mailings begin in your state, it’ll take about a month to finish.

Keep an eye on your email. We’ll send you an email update when new Medicare cards start mailing in your state.

Log in to your MyMedicare.gov account to see if your new card has mailed. Don’t have an account yet? Sign up now at MyMedicare.gov — it’s a free, secure, and easy way to access all your Medicare information in one place.

Want to learn more about your new Medicare card? Here are 10 things you should know. Read up so you’re ready before your new card arrives!

Sincerely,
The Medicare Team

Joseph Michael Mauriello – 1936 – 2018

Joseph Michael Mauriello, age 81, of Naples, FL passed away on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Norma; Sons, Mark and Keith; Step children, Greg and Andrea; Grandchildren, Lily, Abby, Nicolas, Isabel, Victoria, Daniel, and Bradley; Brother, Robert; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Joe was born on September 6, 1936 in Newark, NJ. He graduated from Irvington High School and went to Michigan State University on a baseball scholarship. He later earned a JD and attended Wharton School for an advanced business degree. He worked for Western Electric, AT&T Network Systems, and Lucent Technologies where he retired as Regional Vice President in 1997. He also served as a Director at Georgia's Own Credit Union for 26 years, and as the Chairperson for 10 years, up until his death.

Joe lived a full life and will be remembered as a loving, gregarious family man and friend to everyone. Through his stories and antics, Joe brought love and laughter to all around. Upon retirement, he enjoyed spending summers at Lake Hartwell, SC and winters at Naples, FL, and making time in between to take family vacations.

Relatives and friends attended a gathering to celebrate Joe on Saturday, April 28, at Club Pelican Bay, Naples, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) or your preferred charitable organization. For online condolences, please visit www.fullernaples.com.

Published in Naples Daily News on Apr. 28, 2018

NOKIA DEPENDENT VERIFICATION

We have confirmed that Nokia is currently undergoing a dependent reverification to ensure that dependents enrolled in our health and welfare plans satisfy the plans’ eligibility rules.

Not all dependents are subject to reverification; for example, biological children are excluded because once verified, biological children always continue to meet eligibility requirements, unlike spouses who may lose eligibility due to divorce.

Alcatel-Lucent last conducted a full dependent verification in 2008. Letters to retirees with dependents subject to reverification were mailed from Nokia’s Dependent Verification Center last Tuesday, and responses are due within 45 days of the mailing date. The letters contain information retirees need to provide in order to verify their dependents and the various methods by which they can do so (online, fax or mail).

Summary Plan Descriptions of our health and welfare plans are available on www.benefitanswersplus.com.

BEWARE-- MEDICARE SCAM

THE FACTS

Starting 4/1/18 Medicare will start a year-long project to replace all current Medicare cards for beneficiaries to convert to alphanumeric ID numbers. Currently, the ID number is your social security number. New Medicare cards without Social Security numbers are being distributed from April 2018 to April 2019. The new Medicare card will come to you in the mail. You don't need to request it or do anything. It will just show up.Your existing card is good until the new one shows up.

THE SCAM

Somebody from "MEDICARE " will call to tell you-you are getting a new Medicare card. But until it comes you will need a temporary card. Fee for the card is between $5-50 dollars. They want personal information, bank account or credit card so they can process your temporary card.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

• Medicare will never call you unless you ask them to. Medicare does all communications by mail unless you ask them to call.
• Ditto for anybody saying they "work with Medicare to make sure you get everything you are entitled to".
• DO NOT give out information over the phone.
• Spread the word. Feel free to share these notes.
• Use your answering machine to screen calls or just don't even answer a number you don't recognize.
• If it has happened to you or your friends or loved ones and personal info had been given out (happens considerably more often than you think so don't feel bad or stupid) immediately take action to protect yourself against identity theft.

HELP FOR SURVIVORS

The LRO receives frequent requests for dealing with the passing of a retiree or surviving spouse. Consequently, we have created a document that focuses on communicating with Nokia benefits and pensions, along with links to websites with checklists for other family issues. The document is available here.

The document is printable so that you can keep it in your files for future reference.

You should have received an email on 2/8 containing the above information. If you did not receive it, we do not have your current email address. Check the bottom of this column.