Thread regarding Ford layoffs

Called this morning, at least the 10th try. At 9 a.m. got the recorded message from VIA manager and he said I'm sorry there are delays. Another recorded message said average wait times are 77 minutes right now. ARRRGH.

The waiting periods on plans other than MetLife drove me to stick with MetLife. With MetLife I believe there are very few waiting periods unless you currently do not have dental insurance

Better check the fine print - "waiting periods" for Basic Restorative Services and Major Restorative Services

Restorative Services

Basic - 6 Months Waiting Period

Major - 12 Months

SCHEDULE OF BENEFITS (continued)

5. DESCRIPTION OF COVERED SERVICES (continued)

Basic Restorative Services (Covered after a Waiting Period of 6 months) (continued)

13. Space maintainers for a Child under age 14 once per lifetime per tooth area.
14. Sealants or sealant repairs for a Child under age 14, which are applied to non-restored, non-decayed

first and second permanent molars, once per tooth every 60 months.

15. Preventive resin restorations which are applied to non-restored first and second permanent molars,

once per tooth every 60 months.

16. Pulp therapy.
17. Simple extractions.

Major Restorative Services (Covered after a Waiting Period of 12 months)

1. Apexification/recalcification.
2. Diagnostic casts.
3. General anesthesia or intravenous sedation in connection with or-l surgery, extractions or other

Covered Services, when We determine such anesthesia is necessary in accordance with generally
accepted dental standards.

4. Local chemotherapeutic agents.
5. Injections of therapeutic dr-gs.
6. Initial installation of full or partial Dentures (other than implant supported prosthetics):

• when needed to replace congenitally missing teeth; or
• when needed to replace natural teeth that are lost while the person receiving such benefits was
insured under this policy.

7. Addition of teeth to a partial removable Denture to replace natural teeth removed while insurance

under this policy was in effect for the person receiving such services.

8. Replacement of a non-serviceable Denture if such Denture was installed more than 10 years prior to

replacement.

9. Replacement of an immediate, temporary, full Denture with a permanent, full Denture, if the

immediate, temporary, full Denture cannot be made permanent and such replacement is done within
12 months of the installation of the immediate, temporary, full Denture.

10. Relinings and rebasings of existing removable Dentures:

• if at least 6 months have passed since the installation of the existing removable Denture; and
• not more than once in any 36 month period.

11. Re-cementing of Cast Restorations or Dentures, but not more than once in a 12 month p

Page 7 of 11
SCHEDULE OF BENEFITS (continued)

5. DESCRIPTION OF COVERED SERVICES (continued)

Major Restorative Services (Covered after a Waiting Period of 12 months) (continued)

12. Adjustments of Dentures, if at least 6 months have passed since the installation of the Denture and

not more than once in any 12 month period.

13. Initial installation of Cast Restorations (except implant supported Cast Restorations).
14. Replacement of any Cast Restoration (except implant supported Cast Restorations) with the same or

a different type of Cast Restoration, but no more than one replacement for the same tooth within 10
years of the initial installation or a prior replacement.

15. Prefabricated crown, but no more than one replacement for the same tooth within 10 years.
16. Core buildup, but no more than once per tooth in a period of 10 years.
17. Posts and cores, but no more than once per tooth in a period of 10 years.
18. Or-l Surgery, except as mentioned elsewhere in this SCHEDULE OF BENEFITS.
19. Consultations or interpretation of diagnostic image by a Dentist not associated with the capture of the

image, but not more than once in a 12 month period.

20. Other consultations, but not more than once in a 12 month period.
21. Root canal treatment, including bone grafts and tissue regeneration procedures in conjunction with

periradicular surgery, but not more than once for the same tooth.

22. Other endodontic procedures , such as apicoectomy, retrograde fillings, root amputation, and

hemisection

23. Periodontal surgery, including gingivectomy, gingivoplasty, and osseous surgery, but no more than

one surgical procedure per quadrant in any 36 month period.

24. Surgical extractions.
25. Implant services (including sinus augmentation and bone replacement and graft for ridge

preservation):
• when needed to replace congenitally missing teeth; or
• when needed to replace natural teeth that are lost while the person receiving such benefits was
insured under this policy.
but no more than once for the same tooth position in a 10 year period.
2

5. DESCRIPTION OF COVERED SERVICES (continued)

Major Restorative Services (Covered after a Waiting Period of 12 months) (continued)

27. Implant supported Cast Restorations, but no more than once for the same tooth position in a 10 year

period.

28. Implant supported fixed Dentures, but no more than once for the same tooth position in a 10 year

period.

29. Implant supported removable Dentures, but no more than once for the same tooth position in a 10

year period.

30. Tissue conditioning, but not more than once in a 36 month period.
31. Simple repair of Cast Restorations or Dentures, but not more than once in a 12 month period.
32. Application of desensitizing medications where periodontal treatment (including scaling, root planing,

and periodontal surgery, such as osseous surgery) has been performed.

33. Full mouth debridements, but not more than once per lifetime.
34. Occlusal adjustments, but not more than once in a 12 month period.
35. Appliances for treatment for bruxism (grinding teeth), including but not limited to occlusal guards and

night guards, but not more than once in a 24 month period.

36. Cleaning and inspection of a removable appliance once every 6 months.

Orthodontic Covered Services (Covered after a Waiting Period of 12 months)
Orthodontia for a Child up to age 1

For me MetLife was cheaper outside VIA. --
$44.90/month for PPO High with $2k max is a lot better for me than
VIA MetLife 2 at almost $60/month with only $1.5k max

Probably depends on what you are looking for, possibly on your zip code

Met Life Dental was cheaper on VIA than direct from Met Life. Not sure how the other posters thought it was lower??

I did a quick Google search for Molina reviews. They are terrible. I realize that people are more likely to leave a review when they have something to complain about, but be aware.

I checked Molina website and price for Constant Care Silver 7 healthcare insurance is exactly the same as on the VIA site.

So, not as bad as MetLife dental where VIA appears to be making a big profit. But still no group discount seen by Ford salaried retirees. I would guess any group discount became a juicy profit for VIA.

I agree with the sentiment that Ford does not REALLY value its retirees. If it did, they would have kept us on a Ford group plan vs. pushing us to Via Benefits and fending for ourselves. In my case, the ACA will be a better option than the Ford funding. So, Ford really is saving a lot of money if a significant number of retirees go this route. The Via Benefits experience was poor like most of the comments. I ended up working with a local licensed agent I found on my own whom was much more informed and knowledgeable. I will still end up paying about the same as last year with ACA credit, but my deductible will be twice as high as last year. Wondering if there were some back door negotiations with Biden admin to push us to support ACA for help with EV tax credits, charging stations in the infrastructure deal. A lot of my reduced pension will now go to health care which might have gone to a new lease or retail Ford. Seems like Ford could have done better by us with the large amount of current and retirees in a group insurance pool. Maybe we need to organize a Ford Retiree Lives Matter group!

I was told that you can get reimbursement for any healthcare or dental as long as it is purchased after tax. It does not have to be a Via Benefits plan.

If you brought health insurance outside VIA offerings (assuming you could find a better deal) could you get the $500/month from Ford reimbursement through VIA?

This is really sad. Ford negotiated LOWER prices last year for retiree's group plans. This year the dental rates with VIA for any insurer is actually HIGHER than individuals receive buying insurance directly!

Clearly VIA is making large profits and this is costing retirees.

I called MetLife directly. Their dental plans are less expensive than that on via, and you have more choices. Maybe better to sign up directly with them. They also answer the phone when you call.

@isi+1egbccO7 , happy to help, thanks for the additional info.
Unfortunately sorting through this and making better decisions takes some time, hopefully other retiree's will share useful info.

I rushed and made the mistake of signing up for VIA MetLife Plan 2 which as you know is pretty bad. Tomorrow I have to call and drop it.

@psj+1egbccO7 Thanks for the Metlife link that is a very good family rate. I am looking at a Cigna plan that is a few dollars more and looks identical but includes Orthodontia ..I have a younger member. Cigna looks to have a few more providers near me and some I am familiar with and leaning that way. Both are far better than the VIA options. Since there is no contract with Cigna I can cancel at anytime and switch - not tied to annual enrollment and I guess many are set up that way? Who knew I would have to become a dental, vision, and healthcare cost/benefit analyst so soon but I am getting education fast...as new retirees will soon.

It makes sense to buy dental out of pocket to get a better deal as the cost of the VIA health insurance will be larger than the $500/month provided by Ford

This was probably pitched as a cost savings for Ford. I can just see the VIA PowerPoint slide where a large portion of Ford retiree's are predicted to no longer be an expense to Ford because they will opt for the government tax credits.

I am probably going to buy MetLife insurance directly from MetLife as it appears to be better than the MetLife programs provided by VIA. Here is the link -- https://www.metlifetakealongdental.com/Plan/Plan

Terrible reviews, but according to them
:

Our exceptional customer service has been recognized with the following awards.

Customer Service Department of the Year: 2020 • 2021
Best Customer Service Training: 2020 • 2021
Best Customer Feedback Strategy: 2020 • 2021

What a sham , Bill probably pulled their name out of a Lions helmet.

Wow what a kick in the nads to retirees who have been getting HC Benis from Ford or employees who were planning on getting that Medical after retirement.

I retired in 2020 and went on Cobra as I was hired post June 1 2001. Ford healthcare is expensive since it pays near zip until you hit their deductible but it was a great policy accepted virtually by all providers. These ACA plans are a whole different animal when it comes to finding "accepting providers". Many of the specialists just tell you no once they here the plan is off the ACA Open Market even though it is a BCBS Plan.

Krazy to hear that especially for my wife and I it's $1044/month and has a 17k deductible.

Krazy times.

Save your money if your planning on retiring pre 65 years of age :)

Good Luck

My learnings --

1. Realize the website will try to default you into the government benefits rather than the $500 from Ford. If the government benefits are less than $500 you need to uncheck the "apply this amount to premium" or you will have to call to fix the situation.

2. Get a good speaker phone and find something else to do when on hold.

3. HAP and BCBS seem really expensive. Consider Molina if you are a reasonable distance from Ann Arbor as U of Michigan accepts Molina.

4. Dental policies also seem expensive relative to what they provide. Read the plans carefully to figure out what makes the most sense for your situation.