The Forty First Year

of the

IBEW L.U. 683 Retiree's Club

Newsletter

January 2023

Volume 2 Issue 1

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

IBEW Local Union 683 Seniors Email Newsletter

In order to get where you want to go, you first must leave where you are at.

In this Edition


Contact info for sending membership dues to our Treasurer Rick Deime, Christmas Luncheon a success, Aetna news, Union Label, Alliance of Retired Americans, 683 Member Assistance Program and much more...




Please share this email with L.U. 683 Members, Widows active and retired, and hit the Sign Up Form button above to receive this email newsletter, monthly.


Note: We have 131 folks that receive this email newsletter, the goal for the end of 2023 is to have this up to 500.


Still raw and might flawed, but it is an effort to personalize uplift and inspire our members to never give up and find ways to contribute to empower one another and our IBEW Organization.

Hope you enjoy my message.



Our new Treasurer, Rick Deime is ready to accept your 2023 dues. Please make checks payable to Rick and mail to: 2031 Ormond Ave., Columbus, Ohio. If you have any questions you can contact Rick by cell, 614-638-9413 or email: twonickels53:gmail.com. Also, you can still send dues to me, so you have choices.

The 100th Anniversary of IBEW L.U. 683

is only a year away 2024.

Plans and dates to be announced as they unfold...

Grant us brotherhood (sisterhood), not only for this day but for all our years; a brotherhood not of words but of acts and deeds.

Stephen Vincent Benet

41st Annual Christmas Luncheon 2022

40 Members and Guests Present:

Special thanks to Pam Obert for thinking of and creating the invitation with her daughter, Donna Perkins for a beautiful dessert display, and to Chris and Tammy from PC Events Catering in Powell Ohio for the great food and service to make it all happen.

The Club is deeply grateful for the cooperation and support both logistically and financially from Pat Hook, Mike Morey and the Officers and Staff of our Local Union to keep the club viable and moving forward.


Jerry & Brenda Held, Rich & Debbie Hutchinson, Steve Nole & Debbie, Mike Jones, Tommy Thompson & Nancy Whittingham, Paul & Lillian Falk, Terri Thayer & Joy from L.U.71, Bruce & Vicki Boyer, Harry Beach, Keith Stephenson, Joe & Rhonda Day, Rick Deime & Stacy Starcher, Gary Miller & Spouse, Chuck & Terri Kennedy, Jeff & Anne Rush, Mark Woerner, Wally Obert, Grant Morey, Dan & Beth Campbell, Fuzzy Farrington, Bob & Jerri Garich, Jack Holstein, Donna Perkins, Roger & Connie Knight, and Brian Damant.


The goal for the Christmas Luncheon in 2023 is to double the attendance.


Fuzzy Farrington & Keith Stephenson

Bruse Boyer & Mark Woerner

Be present and write it on your heart that each moment is the only moment there is.

Meghna Chakrabarti

WBUR Boston

Every weekday at noon at 89.7 FM

This past week Meghna did a series of interview titled:

'More than Money: The Monopoly on Meat'

Click on this link below to hear the interviews.


https://dcs.megaphone.fm/BUR7063572407.mp3?key=9709d5237af89837ce22d3f223c5e129&request_event_id=91d7c908-b419-41fd-89f0-359fba668646

Senior Golfers at Homestead Springs Golf Course

Left to Right

Paul Falk, Dan Haines, Mike Kuhn, Charley Leibrock, Denny Maciejewski, Andy Jacobs, Dennis Nicodemus, Dennis Mullins


The Aetna membership cards started arriving about December 22nd; did you get yours? If you have questions or concerns please contact Bill Barrett our Aetna representative at:

614-933-5518, barrettw@aetna.com


Andy Andrews, Seven Decisions.

An optimist stays up to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. William E. Vaughn.

Union Label

Unionlabel.com


Caltrend Seat Covers: www.caltrend.com, Simplay3 a kids company in Ohio: www.simplay3.com, Ping Golf Clubs, Carolina Boots, www.highwood-usa.com for furniture, Bearpaw for the outdoor adventurer: bearpawwd.com. Children'sw Toys shop for Hasbro and Milton Bradley Brands


Byron Katie

Loving What Is

I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.

Abraham Lincoln

Important Dates

  • Thursday Jan. 12th 6PM Regular Union Meeting
  • Tuesday January 16th regular Seniors Club Meeting 9:30
  • Gantz Park, Grove City Picnics dates to be announced
  • Annual Local Union Fish Fry Friday June 3rd and Senior Club 50/50 Drawing
  • 25 Year Club Banquet plan for Saturday Oct. 14th
  • Third Annual Veteran's Luncheon, plan for Saturday Nov. 11th
  • 42nd Annual Christmas Luncheon, plan for Saturday December 9th
  • Retirees 'Shoot the Bull Session' every Wednesday morning 7AM-9:30AM in the Retirees room at the Hall.

If you have a category of interest you would like to see inserted below let me know by clicking the 'get in touch' button at the end of this email.

The pics below are of brother Brett Burleigh who had resided in his camper in the mountains about forty miles outside of Eugene Oregon. He was burned out by the wildfires two years ago yet managed to rebound with the help of L.U. 683. Take care Brother Brett!

Arts-Music

Politics


https://www.facebook.com/OhioARA

Buy-Sell-Trade-Need Help

Starting in our January newsletter, if you have something that falls into the category above and want to post it here, send me the detailed information with your cell and email and it will get posted here. If you have pictures that would be great. We will see how it goes...

By the numbers: 131 Constant Contact emails go out this month which includes, retirees, wives, widows and guests. There are a total of 84 Dues paying members. Dues are $10 per retiree, and $10 for the spouse/partner if they want to be active and vote, or just support the Club and its member activities/events. Widows and guests are free. Guests would be Union Leaders, Affiliates, Community Leaders... Make checks payable to: Rick Deime and mail to: 2031 Ormond Ave. Cols. OH. 43224 (614-638-9413) twonickels53@gmail.com.

TED Talk

The benefits of not being a jerk to yourself.

Dan Harris

13:39 minutes

Prayers and Celebrations of Life

  • Jack David Anderson Sr. passed 12/18/2022

https://www.orwoodyard.com/obituaries/Jack-Anderson- 31/#!/TributeWall


  • Daniel E. Kocher passed 12/25/2022


  • Gordon Fabry passed Monday 12/26/2022

https://www.brownandsonsfuneral.com/obituary/gordon-fabry


If you know anyone else please click the 'Get In Touch' button below and send me an email.


Click on the small icon below with a computer screen on it and it will take you to our Local Union Website. Login and scroll down the list on your right to see deceased members the past couple of years. Scroll further down and click on Committees/Sports to find the retiree page...

Member Assistance Program (MAP)

You received your packet of info from the Hall?

I found it easy to log in at the top of their page where it says member and family login; except where it asks for our organization, put in IBEW and then it gives a drop down box and select 683.

It offers another wide buffet of assistance more geared for active members, however, if you have kids or grandkids in the trade, help them access it for the benefits.

Hit the button below to go to their website.


Visit our Website

Wednesday morning Bull session. Clockwise: Sib Goelz, Roger Knight, Ernie Williams, Steve Smith, Chuck Kennedy, Steve Nole, President Mike Morey, Grant Morey, Lee Chase, Wally Obert, Jim Schneider, John Brown, Bobby Dodson, Gary Grcic alisa 'Guido', John O'Day.

Meghna Chakrabarti

WBUR Boston

Every Weekday at Noon at 89.7FM


Music and Healing


https://dcs.megaphone.fm/BUR2190081100.mp3?key=42ee9e9ed0fd67accb208469f96a6977&request_event_id=63e4440b-7caa-4f30-975e-fa203fdeeb14

Aetna's 18 FAQ's

Oct. 31st. 2022 Revision


Note: Please be sure the Union Hall 614-294-4786 and Aetna 800-307-4830 has your current and primary address on file.


1. Who is eligible for the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan?


Retirees who are over 65 and currently covered under the IBEW Local 683 Health and

Welfare Retiree Coverage are eligible for the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage

PPO plan. Disabled Retirees are also eligible for the plan if you were eligible to receive

Social Security Benefits, or you submit other proof of disability satisfactory to the Trustees;

and at the 25 th month of your disability, you enroll in and obtain coverage under Medicare

Parts A and B.


2. How do I enroll in the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan?


You will automatically be enrolled in the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO

plan on January 1, 2023. No additional action is needed on your part for enrollment.


3. What if I don’t want to be enrolled in the new plan?


If you don’t want to be enrolled in the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan,

you can opt out by calling Aetna at 800-307-4830, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–9 p.m. ET, by

October 31, 2022.

Important: Once you opt out of coverage, you will only be able to return to the Senior

Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan if you have maintained continuous coverage

through another qualified plan and enroll in the Senior Retiree coverage within the first 60

days after the last month when coverage ended.


4. What if I don’t want to be enrolled in the new plan and my spouse does want to be

enrolled?


If you don’t want to be enrolled in the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan,

you can opt out by calling Aetna at 800-307-4830, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–9 p.m. ET, by

October 31, 2022. Please note that if a Union member opts out of the Senior Retiree

Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan, your spouse will also be dis-enrolled when you opt

out.


5. What if my spouse does not


If your spouse does not want to be enrolled in the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage

PPO plan, your spouse can opt out by calling Aetna at 800-307-4830, Monday–Friday, 8

a.m.–9 p.m. ET, by October 31, 2022. Please note that if the spouse of a Union member opts

out of the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan, the Union member may stay

in the Senior Retiree Medicare Advantage PPO plan.


6. What will I have to pay for the program?


You will continue to pay the same premium rates you are currently paying.


7. Will I get a new member ID card?


Yes, watch your mail for a new Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO

plan member ID card in mid-December. Your new Aetna ID card will be

mailed to you in an unmarked envelope for your security. If you do not

receive your new ID card by December 22 nd , please contact Customer

Service at 800-307-4830, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–9 p.m. ET


8. Should I notify my existing doctor, pharmacist and other medical providers of

the change?


Yes, when you receive your new Aetna Medicare Advantage card please

take it with you to your doctor, pharmacist and other providers. You will no

longer need to have your red, white and blue Medicare card with you for your

physician or pharmacy visits. Please keep your red, white and blue Medicare

card in a safe place

.

9. What are my benefits with the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO

plan?


Through the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan, you have medical, dental,

and vision coverage, as well as prescription drug coverage and hearing benefits. You also

have access to additional programs through Aetna, such as:

• Lifestyle coaching and tobacco cessation

• Resources For Living® employee assistance program (EAP)

• SilverSneakers fitness benefit

• 24/7 Nurse Line, and more!


10. How do I know if my doctors, hospitals or specialists participate in the Senior

Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan?


You’ll be able to use any doctor, hospital or specialist in or out of the Aetna Medicare

Advantage PPO network, without paying more for out-of-network services. This is as

long as the provider has accepted the plan and has not opted out or has been

excluded from Medicare. If you need help finding a provider or seeing if your current

providers are in- or out-of-network, visit aetnaretireeplans.com.


11. Where is the claims office located for the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare

Advantage PPO plan for IBEW Local 683?


The claims office is located in New Albany, Ohio.


12. What happens to a spouse’s coverage when the union member dies?


The surviving spouse will stay on the plan after the union member’s death until the

surviving remarries.


13. Where can I go to get my prescriptions filled?


Aetna’s national network of pharmacies includes CVS, Meijer, Kroger, Walmart,

Walgreens, Giant Eagle, Publix among others. If you have your prescriptions

filled by mail, you’ll need a new 90-day prescription. Ask your doctor to send an

electronic prescription to CVS Caremark® Mail Service Pharmacy. This is the easiest way

to get started – you can expect to get your medication in 7 to 10 business days.


14. Will my current medications be covered?


Every prescription drug plan has a list of covered medications, called a formulary. To view

the formulary for the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan, please click on

this link: Aetna Formulary For IBEW 683 Senior Medicare Advantage PPO Plan or scan the QR

Code below with your smartphone. Note: The QR code did not paste to this document


Please know that when reviewing the Aetna formulary, the IBEW 683

Board of Trustees compared it to your current formulary and found

minimal disruption.


15. Do I need to be enrolled in Medicare to be eligible for the Senior Retiree Aetna

Medicare Advantage PPO plan?


You must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, submit proof of enrollment to Aetna,

and continue to pay your Part B premiums to Social Security, in order to be eligible for

the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan provided through the Fund. If

you stop paying your Medicare premiums, you may be dis-enrolled from the Senior

Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan.

If you need to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B or are not sure if you’re currently enrolled,

visit the Social Security website at ssa.gov/locator, or call 800-772-1213, TTY 800-325-

0778, 8 a.m.–7 p.m., Monday–Friday. You can also call the Fund’s office.


16. What if my spouse is not yet eligible for Medicare?


The Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan will NOT cover spouses who are

not yet eligible for Medicare. Their coverage will continue to be provided through the IBEW


Local 683 Health and Welfare Fund’s regular plan, and they will be issued their own

prescription ID cards. When they become eligible for Medicare, they will be transferred to

the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan.


17. What if I have an existing Medicare Supplement or Prescription Plan?


Once enrolled in the Senior Retiree Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO plan you will be

automatically dis-enrolled in your existing Medicare Supplement and Prescription Plans. If

you are paying for your supplemental coverage through your credit card or bank account, you should

contact your credit card company or bank to have them stop payments


18. When can I register on Aetna’s Member Site for Retirees?

Once you receive your Member ID card from Aetna, you can register on the Aetna Retiree

Site, www.aetnaretireeplans.com.


The Goal of the Labor/Management Fund Trustees is to provide us with all Health and Welfare and Aetna Plan details; this enables us to make informed decisions and fully utilized all we are paying for. to keep us as healthy as possible for as long as possible.


Please make sure the Union Hall and Aetna has your current and primary mailing address.

IBEW Local Union 683 Seniors Club

Please share this newsletter with our L.U. 683 Seniors

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