Union advises Delphi retirees to pick health insurance wisely

STAFF REPORT

WARREN — Delphi Packard Electric retirees are being advised to be careful about agreeing to health-insurance coverage.

Local 717 of the International Union of Electrical Workers said Friday that much work is yet to be done before a change in health insurance takes effect Jan. 1.

Karen Krolopp, union president, said retirees probably will be contacted by many insurance companies. She said every carrier that contacts Local 717 is being referred to the IUE’s headquarters in Dayton.

She said the union will send informational packets to the retirees before the end of the year.

“We encourage every retiree to use prudence before signing any contract,” she said.

The IUE announced this week that it has reached a tentative agreement with General Motors and the U.S. Treasury for the retirees to receive full pensions and partial health-care benefits. Delphi, which has been in bankruptcy for four years, had said it was going to cancel health-care benefits and send pensions to the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.

The current insurance plan runs through Dec. 31.