Accomplishments 2015–2018

Bob Hightower succeeded Dave Mason as president.
We conducted a survey of Consolidated Nuclear Security’s (CNS) post-65 retirees’ experience with CNS’s new health coverage plan. Results are as follows:

An 18-question survey was sent to about 6400 post-65 retirees. We very much appreciate ATLC’s allowing us to include our survey in their notification to retirees of health screening opportunities that ATLC manage. That made it financially possible for us to do this survey. CNS was also very helpful by addressing envelopes to their retirees and stuffing them with the ATLC notice and our survey.
Over 400 responses were received and the results entered into a spreadsheet for analysis. Not everyone answered all questions, but the sample is large enough to be meaningful.
Our results found a high level of dissatisfaction and many instances of higher costs to retirees, especially with the prescription drug plans that retirees selected. There were no big surprises but the survey provided some quantification of previous impressions. We have shared our results with CNS and discussed three possible actions that they might take to reduce many of the negative impacts:
1. Allow retirees who were not previously participating in the health care plan to enroll in order to receive the HRA,
2. Provide some type of help for those in the do-nut hole, either by:
  - reducing the cost of those drugs or
  - moving the retirees into the active employees' drug plan as has been done at ORNL.
3. Allow retirees to have the same vision and dental plan as the active employees that would have more favorable costs for retirees.

CORRE presented a list several specific requests for information where the respondent included a name and phone number and expected a response. CNS will respond to these people and have already done so in some cases.
A report showing more details of the survey results is shown on our web page at CORRE.info, which is up and running again.
As added benefits, the survey spurred more than 170 new CORRE members to join, and ATLC reported that they have received many, many requests for health screenings that they manage.
We sent a letter to editors of the Knoxville News Sentinel and The Oak Ridger, and posted on the CORRE web site containing a letter in which we proposed that Rep. Fleischman request Sec. Moniz to address the surviving spouse inequity. There no specific result of this action, but it informed the area retirees of our efforts in this issue.
We had discussions with Senator Lamar Alexander’s office in an effort to correct the inequity in surviving spouse premiums. As a result of the meeting in Knoxville, Patrick Jaynes, committed that his office would inquire of the contractors about how many retirees are affected and how much the cost would be to make such a correction. This will at least give us useful needed information on the practically of our proposed change.
We re-energized contacts with retiree associations at Savannah River, Hanford, and Los Alamos.

We maintained close contact with all contractors in Oak Ridge, requesting and getting retiree information in a number of areas, including estimates of additional pension plan liabilities that would occur if the reduced spousal option premium could be obtained for those not getting this now.
We had continuing dialog with the Savannah River Retirees Association with regard to an initiative they are proposing to all other retiree organizations in the DOE complex.
We had a presentation from Pam Williamson and Jean Williams of CNS on BenVal developments and issues. You may remember that Benefit Evaluation (or BenVal) reports are required by DOE O 350.1 every two years or when there is a contractor change. DOE requires that contractors’ benefits program costs be compared with those of at least 15 comparable companies. After these evaluations, there may have to be changes that ensure benefit values are no higher than 105% of the companies selected for comparison.

We met with Dr Kenneth Tarcza, the new manager of the Oak Ridge Field Office to discuss surviving spouse inequity.
We continued to maintain close contact with all contractors in Oak Ridge.
We proposed to assist UCOR, the contractor at ETTP, in their survey of retirees regarding their new 2017 healthcare program.
We continued to be in touch with the Savannah River Retirees Association.
We brainstormed ways that we might accomplish improvements leading to more money in the hands of retirees, including:

Reimbursement Arrangement amounts that increase as retiree’s age increases (similar to a tiered arrangement at SRS).
Suggesting that Oak Ridge contractors combine drug plans to increase purchasing power as a way to reduce drug costs for retirees.

We formally requested that CNS reduce the surviving spouse premium to a flat 2% for retirees who retired before 2004. CORRE estimated this would require a one-time payment from the assets of about $17 million or about 0.85% of the total assets. CNS reiterated that their position is to decline offering this reduction.

We continued to maintain close contact with all contractors in Oak Ridge.
We continued to be available to assist UCOR, the contractor at ETTP, in their survey of retirees regarding their new 2017 healthcare program. UCOR did not request specific help.
We have helped retirees who have had difficulties getting answers from the contractors to some health care questions.
A major change in the management of the retirements of the security forces occurred that impacts NSPS, UTBattelle, and CNS. The protective forces who retired while working at UTBattelle and CNS will have their retirements transferred from NSPS to these two sites. There is some uncertainty for the remaining small number of the protective force retirees concerning where their retirements will be managed. DOE rebid the work for these remaining protective forces retirees to be handled by a small business who will take over at the beginning of next year. This contract was subsequently awarded to Golden Services, LLC.

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