We hope this newsletter finds you well. For those of you in the northern parts of the country, we hope you are enjoying the arrival of summer weather.
As we have communicated in the past, we continue to collaborate with the National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN) on issues that affect all of us but require a national effort beyond FCA US. As a member of the NCRO, you are also a member of the NRLN. Recently, our President, Jay Kuhnie, joined Bill Kadereit, President of the NRLN, and Alyson Parker, NRLN’s Washington Director, to meet with Congressional Committee members’ staffs. They advocated pension derisking issues, where companies transfer their pension obligations to insurance companies through the purchase of annuities, eliminating pensioners’ ERISA protection. We are advocating for reinsurance that would provide 100% protection in case of the insurance company’s insolvency. Additionally, they discuss the future funding of Social Security and issues related to Medicare. We will update you on the results of our activities in future communications.
We are very appreciative of and thankful for your continued support. If you have any issues or need assistance, please contact us at nc*********@**ro.org.
Update on February Tri-Annual Meeting
Over the years, we have held either quarterly or tri-annual meetings, hearing from various aspects of the automotive industry. This includes corporate executives within Chrysler/FCA, automotive experts from the media and research, and other experts in the field of protecting seniors and retirees. However, we have not yet heard from our amazing dealer body.
To address this, the NCRO invited Bill Golling from the Detroit Metro area, one of Chrysler/FCA/Stellantis’ largest and most successful dealers, to speak to us. He provided his perspective on the history of the business and his thoughts on its current state and future direction.
Bill shared his personal history and how he became part of the business, starting as a young man working for his father, who founded the Golling dealerships. Over the years, Bill has expanded the business to include many dealerships with several different automotive brands and franchises. He is now transitioning the management of the dealerships to his two sons.
Bill provided excellent insights into the world of dealers, specifically what they have faced over the past several years since the beginning of Stellantis. He also discussed the positive changes made by the newly appointed management in recent months. Additionally, Bill shared interesting insights into the electrification of the automotive business, its impact on dealers’ short-term and long-term business, and the financial implications for dealerships.
If you were unable to attend the meeting, we encourage you to view it along with other meeting videos on Youtube at https://youtube.com/@thencro.
Aging Information Committee
The NCRO Aging Information Committee held a webinar on March 18th at 11 AM EST, covering Assisted Living Choices with speaker Justine Bykowski. We are exploring other topics for future webinars, so keep checking our page on NCRO.org. Also, visit our website for our new blog on Aging Issues, which is well worth a visit.
We hope everyone is doing great. If you have questions, please email us at Ag***@**ro.org
Request for Possible NCRO Board Members
Since its inception in 2008, the activities of the NCRO have been directed by a Board of Directors. Currently, our Board consists of an exceptional group of 20 members, most of whom have served for over 10 years, some since the inception of the NCRO.
All organizations need to develop a succession plan, and the NCRO is no different. We are looking for individuals who might be interested in serving as a member of the Board. Our current Board is made up of individuals from all areas and levels within the automotive industry, which we believe contributes to our success.
If you are interested in serving on the Board, please contact Jay Kuhnie, President, at ja*******@**ro.org. Upon receiving your interest, he will contact you to discuss the Board and its activities. Remember, this is a volunteer organization that can provide a tremendous amount of satisfaction working for our retirees.
Insurance Committee Update
Filing Claims with Via Benefits Accounts (VBA)
In December, the NCRO’s Insurance Committee provided a 90-minute webinar presented by experts from Via Benefits Accounts (VBA), which is now posted on the NCRO’s website. The presentation covered claims filing for reimbursements from the Healthcare Retirement Account (HRA) and the Retiree Health Care Account (RHCA).
You can access the presentation and video from the NCRO homepage: https://ncro.org. We encourage you to visit our website for all the information the NCRO provides its members.
Here is the direct link to the presentation:
https://ncro.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/FCA-VBA-Stellantis-NCRO-12-10-24-Deck-FINAL.pdf
And here is the direct link to the video on the NCRO’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9beKnywKr8
NOTE: If you have an issue with VBA or Benefit Connect (BC) that you cannot resolve directly with them, please send the NCRO Insurance Committee the details, and we may be able to help through our contacts in HR provided by FCA. Please send that information to the Insurance Committee at In****@**RO.org.
Patient Assistance Programs (PAP) for Drug Cost Relief
If you or someone you know is taking an expensive drug, you are aware that some biological medications can cost tens of thousands of dollars, potentially exceeding $100,000 annually, depending on insurance coverage. Insurance often covers much of this cost, but each plan (including Medicare Part D) can have rules and limits resulting in high out-of-pocket expenses. For those with Medicare Part D, the cost for 2025 is capped at $2,000, provided the drug is in the insured’s drug plan formulary.
Drug manufacturers understand that these prices are unaffordable for many Americans. As a result, most have created Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) to assist individuals who find their prescribed drugs extremely expensive. The manufacturer may serve as either a secondary insurance plan to your regular drug insurance plan or bypass your insurance plan altogether, providing the medication free of charge or at a discount.
First, determine if the manufacturer of your medication has created a PAP. Your doctor’s office staff can help by applying to the manufacturer for you, but you may need to ask. They know which drug manufacturers have programs for the specific drugs prescribed. Alternatively, you can determine the manufacturer of your drug via the internet and contact them directly. Inquire if they have a PAP for patients, ask if you are eligible, and learn the steps to apply.
It is worth noting that not all PAPs have income limitations. Some are open to all users of the medications, with no income requirements whatsoever. However, under federal law, people covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or other federally funded insurance plans are not always eligible to enroll in these PAP programs. With the recent advent of the Medicare Part D $2,000 cap on drug costs, there may be less incentive for manufacturers to help. However, if you have a drug that is not in your insurer’s formulary (even after requesting an exception), the manufacturer might be more inclined to assist.
If someone cannot be covered under a PAP, there are charitable organizations that fund drug costs for various illnesses, primarily cancer. Manufacturers have lists of these charities. In some cases, if a charity has exhausted its funds for a particular drug or illness, the manufacturer may then cover the entire cost of the drug. Different manufacturers have varying policies.
The manufacturer’s PAPs are extremely knowledgeable about the ins and outs of all types of coverage available. Be proactive and call them; they will direct you. They are your best source of information and assistance. However, beware of scam websites that want to charge a monthly fee to provide you with your drug at a discount or for free. Ensure you are visiting the manufacturer’s website.
These medications are expensive, but help is available. Be persistent and willing to investigate all the resources available.
Who is the NCRO’s Insurance Committee (IC)?
We are a group of fellow retired NCRO members who wanted to understand more about our own retiree benefits to help ourselves and our fellow retirees. Formed about 15 years ago, we now have seven members from MI, OH, and IN who can assist you when you encounter roadblocks with the normal FCA channels of Via Benefits Accounts (VBA) and Benefit Connect (BC). The IC has helped several hundred fellow retirees, both directly with the benefits knowledge we have gained and by using the FCA contacts provided to us in FCA’s Health Care, Pensions, and other retiree benefits departments. On the NCRO.org website, we provide content for the tabs Health Insurances, Reimbursements, and Pension/Soc Sec. We also sponsor and hold webinars on these topics. If you hit a roadblock following your normal VBA and BC channels, you can email us the details to see if we can help at In****@**RO.org.
Your Personal Invite to an Important NCRO Webinar |
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On Thursday, September 11th at 9:30 AM, the Insurance Committee of the NCRO will again present “Medicare 101: Information for Pre-65 and 65+”, our annual webinar that focuses on issues of importance to all retirees (and their spouses). While this webinar is designed for those retirees (and/or spouses) who are getting ready to enroll in Medicare (ages 62-64), it also provides very valuable information for those who are already 65+ and currently on Medicare. You need not be a member of NCRO to participate in this free webinar. The agenda includes speakers on:
Please click on this link to register for the WEBINAR.After registering, you will receive a confirmation email which will contain information on how to join the webinar. Registration is now open (see above). In mid-August, you will be receiving an announcement/registration email, at which time, you will also be able to register by going to the NCRO website at NCRO.org. |
2025 CY Membership Dues
Reminder: Calendar Year 2025 Annual Dues (01-01-2025 through 12-31-2025) invoices were mailed at the beginning of November 2024. The $25 annual dues were to be paid by December 31, 2024. If you have already paid your 2025 Calendar Year Dues, you will not receive a dues notice. Second dues reminders were sent in March 2025 for those who haven’t paid their dues.
We also ask that you encourage your retiree friends who are not NCRO members to join our efforts by becoming members of NCRO.
Reminder to Check/Update Your Information for the NCRO
To ensure that NCRO can provide you with the latest communications, newsletters, benefits, and company ownership updates, please check and update your information in the NCRO database.
Regarding Membership Information in the NCRO Database:
There is no linkage between Stellantis and NCRO databases. If you update FCA with any changes to your home address, email address, or phone numbers, these changes do not get to NCRO. You need to update both Stellantis and NCRO separately.
- Email Address: If you no longer have an email address, the only means for NCRO to provide you with written communications is through your mailing address. If it is not correct in the NCRO database, you will not receive any communications from NCRO. Please keep your address in the database current.
- Snowbirds: Many of you may travel to a warmer climate for the winter months. We cannot keep two mailing addresses for you in our database. Please provide NCRO with one main mailing address to send NCRO communications.
- Payment Addresses: All 2024 Calendar Year payment addresses will be reviewed and compared to what is in the NCRO database. If you are using the NCRO website to make payment for breakfast meetings or dues, please take the time to review your information in the database and correct it if required.
- Caregiver Address: If you are living with a caregiver, please use the caregiver’s address in the database.
Please go to the NCRO website (www.ncro.org) under the “NCRO Members” tab and check to see that your correct address and/or email address is on file. It also may be incorrect in FCA’s database. So, update both NCRO and Stellantis with any changes in address and/or phone number. Make that update at https://fcabenefits.ehr.com. Click on My Profile and on View/Edit to see your current information and make any needed changes. If you have a problem updating your information in the NCRO database, please contact Pete Piccinato, and he will help to get it done. Pete’s email is: pp********@*****st.net
Retiree Friendly Dealer Program
We now have seven Detroit Metro dealers participating in the Retiree Friendly “no hassle” process for selling vehicles to retirees. You can also visit our website to review the list of retiree-friendly dealers and their contact information.
If you are in the market for a vehicle, contact one of the Retiree Friendly Dealers listed below to schedule an appointment. Please make sure that you contact the person identified for that dealer, as they understand the retiree-friendly dealer program. Also, remember the Chrysler Employee and Retiree Advantage Program. Control numbers are available for your use at https://www.ea.chrysler.com/EmpAdv/
Also, remember to use the Retiree Friendly Dealers for your service maintenance. If you go to one of the Retiree Friendly Dealers for maintenance, please let them know that you are a member of NCRO. This will let the dealers know that NCRO members are supporting them since these dealers are supporting NCRO.
Participating Dealers:
Birmingham:
- Golling Alfa Romeo of Birmingham
- Contact Person: James Houfley, (248) 502-0882, email: ja***********@*****ng.com
Bloomfield Hills:
- Golling Chrysler Dodge Jeep
- Contact Person: Matthew J. Godfrey, (248) 409-2332
Rochester Hills:
- Rochester Hills Chrysler Jeep Dodge
- Contact Persons: Lincoln Phillip, (248) 659-3278 or Jerry Dawe, (248) 659-3223
Warren:
- Jim Riehl’s Friendly Chrysler Jeep
- Contact Person: Brian Ackerman, (586) 983-4325, email: Ba*******@***************up.com
Chelsea:
- Golling Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Chelsea RFD
- Contact Person: Darren Verbouw, email: da************@*****ng.com
Roseville:
- Golling Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Roseville
- Contact Persons: Nicolas King (Marketing Manager), (248) 760-2608, email: ni**********@***il.com or Kevin Frabis, (586) 859-2500, email: ke**********@*****ng.com
Auto Tech Tips
The NCRO has added a section to our website for members to ask questions about issues with their Stellantis vehicles. Once we receive a question, it will be submitted to one of our retiree-friendly dealers. The response will be posted on the website, and a separate email will be sent to the individual who asked the question. Our retiree-friendly dealers support this process. Please be aware that some issues may eventually require a visit to the dealership service department to be resolved.