What’s Happening to You!

University Hospital consciously and voluntarily chose to create retiree medical benefits to reward employees for longevity, continuous service because this would mutually benefit all in our ultimate mission of taking care of patients. Year after year, this benefit was clearly communicated in hospital policies, employee handbooks and yearly benefit materials. In 2005, UH realized this was not a financially sustainable future benefit and communicated that this benefit would not apply to employees hired starting in 2005 but continued in all written materials as a benefit as promised to employees hired before 2005. Knowing full well the financial needs of this promised retirement medical benefit, UH had 17 years from 2005 to 2022 to develop/implement a financial plan that would secure this promised benefit and did not. During integration negotiations with Piedmont, once again University Hospital failed to protect this hard-earned promised medical benefits by retirees who dedicated 20-25-30-35-40+ years of consistent service. Which Retirees are impacted by this failure in planning and action: Retirees 65 yrs or older who retired with 30 or more years of continuous service receiving as promised the Medicare supplement at no cost. Retirees who are 60 to 64 yrs who retired with 30 or more years of continuous service receiving insurance at the group rate and at 65 were to then receive the Medicare supplement at no cost. Retirees with 20 to 29 years of continuous service who retired at or after age 60 who are under 65 paying for their insurance at group rate or 65 or older paying for their Medicare supplement . Employees hired before 2005 currently working who have from 20 to 30+ years of continuous service. Concerned retirees who feel University Hospital has failed to honor and protect the medical retiree benefits have joined together as the UH Benefits Task Force with the goal of engaging University/Piedmont to negotiate a solution to this and avoid having to initiate legal action and media coverage but are committed to doing that if this is not addressed. We NEED to make our hundreds of voices heard NOW through calls and letters to the Richmond County Hospital Authority. Piedmont Board Members and other decision-makers to remind them we honored our part with the years of service and they need to honor their promises.