Updated 10/24/2012 11:10 AM
Health Care Providers Host Benefit Meetings for Kodak Retirees
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Health care providers are rolling out several medicare retiree benefit meetings exclusively for former Kodak employees.
Eastman Kodak announced earlier this month that the company will end retiree health benefits by the end of the year.
This change or end in benefits will effect about 25,000 former Kodak workers living in the Rochester area. Kodak's retiree benefits cover medical, dental, life insurance and survivor income benefits.
Kodak's paid about $1.2 billion annually for these benefits and now all those people will need to get coverage on their own.
Companies like MVP Health Care and Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield are working to help retirees come up with individual health care plans. Because there are so many Kodak retirees, those providers are holding benefit meetings exclusively for former Kodak workers.
These seminars will be held at various locations throughout the Rochester area. The meetings are free to attend. Previous meetings have been filled.
MVP Health Care says Kodak continues to be their customer and will continue to meet the health insurance needs of employees and retirees.
For all retirees currently covered under MVP plans, MVP will mail out information outlining health coverage options and meetings for those who are Medicare eligible. The first one is next Friday, November 2 at the Diplomat Banquet Center located at 1956 Lyell Ave. There are three sessions at 9:00 a.m, 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
There are two more planned Friday November 9 in Gates and Pittsford.
Now, Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield has four medicare seminars the next two weeks. The first one is today from 9:30 to 12 at the Wishing Well at 1190 Chili Ave., and Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 10:00 a.m. at the American Legion on Main St. in Canandaigua.
More are planned, for a complete list of seminars for Excellus and for MVP.
Kodak retirees have had some warning that health benefits may change since the company filed for bankruptcy back in January. Now it is crunch time to get those benefits lined up before the current coverage expires December 31.