Stabenow Reinsurance Program to Help 97 Michigan Businesses and Organizations Save Money, Cover Early Retirees

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) announced that early retirees in Michigan who are 55 and older but not yet eligible for Medicare will see significant savings if they get insurance through their former employer. The Department of Health and Human Services has accepted 97 Michigan businesses, local governments, and organizations into the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program , which was authored by Stabenow as part of the Affordable Care Act. Under the program, the Federal government will help employers pay for coverage if an early retiree becomes seriously ill. By covering these catastrophic cases, early retirees and Michigan businesses will save money on their insurance premiums.

"I authored this program to help Michigan businesses continue to cover early retirees. Now many of Michigan's largest employers and their retirees will be able to cover their health care costs ," said Stabenow. "I encourage all eligible Michigan businesses to submit their applications."

This is the first round of applicants who have been accepted into the program and applications are still being accepted. Approved applicants will begin to receive reimbursements for employee claims this fall. The program will pay 80% of an individual's health costs if those costs were between $15,000 and $90,000.

The Department of Health and Human Services also launched two new information tools for employers and organizations interested in the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program -- a new website ( www.ERRP.gov ) and a new hotline (877-574-3777 or 877-574-ERRP). Organizations can find the application form, application instructions, and other relevant guidance and regulations online.

In Michigan, the following 97 organizations have been approved in the first round:

* ArvinMeritor, Inc.
* Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
* BorgWarner Inc.
* Charter County of Wayne Michigan
* Charter Township of Bloomfield
* Charter Township of Clinton
* Charter Township of Waterford
* City of Berkley
* City of Birmingham
* City of Bloomfield Hills
* City of Clawson
* City of Dearborn
* City of Detroit
* City of Flint
* City of Grosse Pointe
* City of Grosse Pointe Park
* City of Grosse Pointe Woods
* City of Hazel Park
* City of Inkster
* City of Madison Heights
* City of Novi
* City of Rochester
* City of Roseville
* City of Royal Oak
* City of St Clair Shores
* City of Sterling Heights
* City of Traverse City
* City of Troy
* City of Wayne
* Coalition of Public Safety
* County of Eaton
* County of Jackson
* County of Mason
* County of Ottawa
* Detroit Millmen's Health and Welfare Fund
* Detroit Pattern Makers Insurance Fund
* DTE Energy Company
* Ecolab Inc.
* Flint Area Sheet Metal Workers Health & Welfare Fund
* Flint Plumbing & Pipefitting Industry Health Care Fund
* General Motors LLC
* Genesys Regional Medical Center
* Grand Traverse County
* Haworth International, Ltd.
* Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Craftworkers Local 47 Welfare Fund
* Heat and Frost Insulators & Allied workers Local 2
* Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority
* Ingham County
* International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 17
* International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 17
* Iron Workers Local 549 and 550 Medical and Benefit Fund
* Iron Workers' Health Fund of Eastern Michigan
* Ironworkers Local 340 Health Care Plan
* Kamminga & Roodvoets, Inc.
* Kellogg Company
* Lear Corporation
* Legislative Retirement System
* Macatawa Bank
* McNaughton-McKay Electric Company
* Michiana Area Electrical Health and Welfare Fund
* Michigan Carpenters Health Care Fund
* Michigan Conference of Teamsters Welfare Fund
* Michigan Electrical Employees' Health Plan
* Michigan Glass and Glazing Industry Local 357 Welfare Insurance Fund
* Michigan Laborers' Health Care Fund
* Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters
* Michigan State AFL-CIO Public Employees Trust
* Michigan Trowel Trades Health & Welfare Fund
* Monroe Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union NO. 671
* Muskegon Charter Township
* NECA-IBEW Local 684 Health & Welfare Trust Fund
* NECA-IBEW Local No. 364 Welfare Trust Fund
* Oakland University
* Painters Union Insurance Fund
* Pipefitters Local 636 Insurance Fund
* Plumbers & Pipefifters Local No. 333 Health & Welfare Fund
* Roofers Union Local No. 70 Insurance Trust Fund
* Seco Tools Inc.
* SEMCO Energy, Inc.
* Sheet Metal Workers Local 292 Health Fund
* Sheet Metal Workers Local 7 Zone 3 Welfare Fund
* Sheet Metal Workers Local 7, Zone 1 Welfare Fund
* Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 80
* SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation)
* State of Michigan
* The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
* The Dow Chemical Company
* ThyssenKrupp Budd Company
* Tri County Building Trades Health Fund
* U.A. Local 85 Insurance Fund
* UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust
* UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust
* UAW Retirees of the Dana Corporation Health and Welfare Fund
* UAW Retirees of the Dana Corporation Health and Welfare Fund
* Upper Peninsula Plumbers' & Pipefitters' Health & Welfare Fund
* Village of Grosse Pointe Shores
* West Shore Bank

Source