Benefits in Brief
Medical Coverage
The Trust’s Plan of Benefits provides medical coverage
for each eligible retiree and spouse. These benefits are
paid under either an indemnity program, or through
an optional preferred provider organization (PPO)
program. The optional PPO program is available only to
retirees and eligible spouses who are not yet eligible for
Medicare.
PPO enrollment increased 6.7% from 2010 to 2011,
and non-Medicare Indemnity enrollment declined
9.1% from 2010 to 2011. In addition, PPO enrollment
represented 65% of the enrolled non-Medicare
participants in 2011, which is 4% more than in 2010.
The Trust’s PPO program for non-Medicare participants
has a number of advantages. When compared with the
Indemnity program, in-network care available through
the PPO option offers:
•
Lower deductibles, copayments, and out-of-pocket
maximums;
•
No claim forms; and
•
A higher lifetime maximum for participants whose
employers contribute to the Trust at the highest rate.
In addition, eligible retirees and their eligible spouses
can take advantage of a free, voluntary heart disease
and diabetes management program through Nurtur,
one of the country’s leaders in disease management
programs. To date, 1,775 participants have enrolled
in one or both programs. This high rate of enrollment
often translates into a higher quality of life for
participants, and lower overall health care costs for the
Trust and for participants.
The number of catastrophic cases among participants—
defined as exceeding $25,000—decreased by 7.2%
from 2010 to 2011, which may be attributable to
better disease management and other interventional
preventive care.
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Introduction
“Our participants are our most important stakeholders. We strive every day to serve
them with the utmost integrity.”
Marilyn Barnes, Executive Director
The Trustees and staff of G.M.P. - Employers Retiree Trust are committed to stewardship, accountability,
and service to participants. Since 1966, the Trust has been committed to serving its contributing
employers’ eligible hourly retirees and their spouses. Over the years, the Trust has paid out more than
$731 million in medical and other benefits on behalf of its participants.
Between January 1, 2011, and
December 31, 2011, The Trust
has paid more than $37 million in
medical benefits on behalf of its
20,647 participants.
