Volume 9, Number 2 / Summer 2025
GM Retirees Chapter President’s Message
Hello GM Retirees,
In my previous newsletter I referenced two groups of GM Retirees as “pre-bankruptcy” and “post-bankruptcy”. After much thought I believe it may be time to pass along these arduous Presidential duties to a “post-bankruptcy” retiree. It has been 16 years since those dark days and my connections to the New GM are slim and none. I believe that GM Retirees would be better served by a more recent GM Retiree who still has active connections to the direction and philosophy of General Motors 2025. If you are interested, please drop me a note and I will pass along your name to the NRLN President Bill Kadereit who will make the final selection.
As always, I would encourage you to check the NRLN website news related to Retiree issues. For most of us, the best thing we can do to be “part of the solution” is to click on the “Action Alert” button when we get a request from the NRLN. You can learn more about the NRLN Legislative Agenda and listen to the most recent Podcast from our President, Bill Kadereit by visiting nrln.org. Current issues highlighted on nrln.org are:
- The NRLN supports closing the funding gap for the Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund by making all wages subject to the payroll tax.
- The NRLN advocates Congress to stop listening to healthcare insurance lobbyists and properly fund Medicare.
- The NRLN wants legislation to end pay-for-delay and other drugmakers’ tactics that keep the cost of prescription prices too high.
Larry Hice, President, GM Retirees Chapter
National Retiree Legislative Network
248-961-5126 cell
National Retiree Legislative Network – General Motors Retirees Chapter Online Contributions
Become an NRLN / GMRC Individual Member…
Greetings! I trust you're doing well. Allow me to confidently remind you about the NRLN's efforts towards safeguarding your retirement. By making an annual contribution, you're investing in your future and supporting their initiatives. Your contribution, regardless of the amount, can make a significant impact. So, let's take action!
Click the CONTRIBUTE button below and join this worthy cause. We're grateful for your ongoing support.
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National Retiree Legislative Network – General Motors Retirees Chapter Contributions Form
The NRLN is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. Contributions are not tax deductible.
- Click here to access a PDF copy of the General Motors form.
- Complete the form, then print,
- Mail this form with your check or money order (no cash please) for $25, $50, $75 or more (any amount will be appreciated) payable to:
NRLN, Inc.
P.O. Box 18757
Washington, D.C. 20036-8757.
Why the NRLN / GMRC Is Relevant to GM Retirees
GM terminated health care at age 65 but added $300/month per retiree or surviving spouse to pensions, replaced pensions with lump sums or Prudential annuities, life insurance was reduced to $10,000 for retirees of record on 8/1/2009 and as of 1/1/2014 life insurance was terminated for all other current and future retirees. Here is what’s left to protect:
Social Security – The NRLN is lobbying for the passage the Social Security 2100 Act. It would ensure funding the program for the next 75 years and change the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) from the current CPI-W pegged to urban wage earners’ living expenses to CPI-E (Elderly) based on older Americans’ spending patterns, including medical costs.
Medicare – The NRLN is lobbying to add a low out-of-pocket cap to original Medicare. Far too many seniors in original Medicare are forced to go without critical health care because they cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs. With this additional benefit, original Medicare would be on a more level playing field with Medicare Advantage plans which are required to have an out-of-pocket cap. The NRLN is also advocating that vision, hearing and dental benefits be added to Medicare.
Immunizations for Seniors – The NRLN is supporting passage of the Protecting Seniors Through Immunizations Act that would provide Medicare beneficiaries access to all recommended vaccines at no additional cost. Some immunizations are covered under Medicare Part B without any out-of-pocket costs, while some vaccines covered under Medicare Part D require significant out-of-pocket costs.
Trust Act – The NRLN is opposing the TRUST Act which would create “rescue committees” for Social Security and Medicare that would operate outside of the regular order of Congress, behind closed doors, and the committees’ recommendations would be fast-tracked for votes without amendments on a take-it-or-leave-it basis. Funding needs to be increased for the Social Security Trust and Medicare Trust, but the policies should not be made without public Congressional hearings and behind closed doors.
Inpatient Rule – The NRLN is lobbying for passage of the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act which would fix an arbitrary Medicare rule that patients who receive hospital care on “observation status” do not qualify for the benefit of skilled nursing care, even if their hospital stay lasts longer than three days and even if their care team prescribes it. Under current Medicare policy, a beneficiary must have an “inpatient” hospital stay of at least three days for Medicare to cover skilled nursing care. Patients on “observation status” are either forced to return home without the treatment they have been prescribed, or, as often happens, they believed they were an “inpatient” and are unexpectedly billed astronomical amounts after their stays in a skilled nursing facility.
Prescription Drugs – We are lobbying for bills to reduce the price of prescription drugs by allowing Medicare to do competitive bidding, end pay-for-delay and other brand name drug makers’ tactics that keep generics off the market and support importation of less expensive drugs that meet FDA safety standards.
Telehealth – Telehealth has been a critical lifeline for millions of retirees who needed care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The NRLN is lobbying to make sure that telehealth coverage for Medicare beneficiaries is made permanent.
Taxes – The NRLN advocates legislation to amend the tax code to eliminate federal and state taxes on all Social Security income and/or allow a tax credit for taxes withheld.
