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Advice and reference info from members. (Updated May 25, 2022.)

This is a supplement to HPAA's main contact directory for former employees of HP, HPE, and related companies: hpalumni.org/contacts

Join the HPAA Benefits Group Covers topics such as COBRA and retiree health benefits, annual enrollment, and transition to Medicare.

Comments: info3@hpalumni.org 

Leaving HPE   Official "Leaving HPE" site  [Note: Depending on age, years of service, and other factors, you may qualify for what HP calls the Pre-2003 HP Retiree Medical Program]    Member checklist

Benefits Center  (Bswift) 1-844-537-5304.  (Outside US, Puerto Rico, Canada 1-312-843-5219) Bswift Ask for a "Retirement Specialist." With any phone center, if the first-level agent can't resolve your issue, ask them to "escalate" your call.    Alight Retiree Health Solutions (formerly Aon) Medicare

Non-US Contacts  HPE Worldwide Former Employee Sites

Death or disability of a former employee. Member advice

Member advice

Which HP-related companies have me classified as a retiree or former employee? Given HP's history of acquisitions and spinoffs, this may not be obvious. If any doubt, check here: Which Company

(HPE retirees -- depending on age, years of service, and other factors -- may qualify for what HP confusingly calls the "Pre-2003 HP Retiree Medical Program" -- as opposed to the current "HP Retiree Medical Program." ("2003" refers to the year in which HP cut back the program, not your year of retirement.) Legally retirees of HPE. However, HPE has paid HP to administer health benefits for those HPE retirees. How to tell if you are qualified for Pre-2003: hpalumni.org/Pre2003)

Be sure to consider alternatives to company coverage -- as recommended in the Annual Enrollment Guide. Even if you qualify for company-subsidized health insurance, you may have low years-of-service. An experienced independent insurance agent licensed to sell insurance in your state can help you sort through the complexity -- and adds nothing to the cost of any plan you purchase from them.

The Benefits Center is the "cosmic glue" for health benefits. The HPE Benefits Center has been outsourced to Bswift, a company that administers health coverage for 15 million people, since April 1, 2019.

HPE transmits employment status information for all current U.S. employees, most retirees, and those on COBRA to the Benefits Center. The Benefits Center handles the details from there on -- including mailings, billing, website, and phone center.

The Benefits Center transmits enrollment information to the carriers (such as UHC and Aetna), the pharmacy benefits companies, the regional HMOs (Kaiser, Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim) and administers the company subsidy provided to Alight Retiree Health Solutions. The Benefits Center has people experienced in resolving issues with the other companies.

If there is a problem, contact the Benefits Center.

Steps to follow

Step 1. Call the phone center for the specific carrier or provider. (UHC, UHC/AARP, Aetna, Anthem, Express Scripts, Medco, OptumRx, Kaiser, Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, etc.) If the first-level phone agent can't help you, ask to escalate your problem. Use the magic word "escalate."

Step 2. If the provider has incorrect information about your eligibility or coverage -- or otherwise can't resolve your issue -- contact the appropriate phone center -- the HPE Benefits Center or Alight Retiree Health Solutions (formerly Aon Retiree Health Exchange) -- as listed below.

The key: All that a provider knows about your specific coverage is in files that were transmitted to them by the Benefits Center or Alight Retiree Health Solutions.

Step 3. If the first-level Benefits Center or Alight Retiree Health Solutions phone agent can't resolve your issue, ask them to "escalate" your call. Use the magic word "escalate." We get very good reports from members who have escalated within the phone centers. The Benefits Centers and Alight Retiree Health Solutions each have a special group that deals with provider issues -- for example, they can set up a three-way phone conversation with an expert troubleshooter at the provider.

Step 4. The HPAA has informal escalation paths into HPE Corporate and Alight Retiree Health Solutions.  hpalumni.org/escalate 

Alight Retiree Health Solutions (formerly Aon Retiree Health Exchange)

Alight Retiree Health Solutions (formerly Aon Retiree Health Exchange) is an insurance brokerage that carries a wide range of Medicare plans. HP and HPE have selected Alight Retiree Health Solutions as their exclusive broker to provide company-subsidized open-market Medicare plans to employees and retirees. You pay list price directly to the carrier or HMO. You are then reimbursed through a special Retiree Reimbursement Account. See Medicare via HP or HPE

However, if there are problems with the subsidy payments paid via your HPE Retiree Reimbursement Account, contact the HPE Benefits Center.

The HPAA has informal escalation paths into HP Corporate, HPE Corporate, and Alight Retiree Health Solutions.  hpalumni.org/escalate  

If formerly a regular, direct U.S. employee of HP or HPE -- or are in the process of leaving -- join the HP Alumni Association. No charge, thanks to HPAA's Supporting Members.

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