Nina Krammer:
Wow. That is quite a change in life Circumstances, mobility potentially can't.
Sal Trentacoste:
Yeah. Yeah. But you can't let any of this stuff get you, you gotta fight through it.
Nina Krammer:
What were the circumstances that brought it about, if you don't mind me, me asking or you sharing?
Sal Trentacoste:
No, not at All. Not at all. Um, I was a diabetic for a long time, but I wasn't taking care of myself as well as I should, so I had vascular damage in the leg. Alright. Uh, we went through all processes, 23 surgeries on the left leg, uh, be before the doctors decided it had to come off. Um, it got to the point where before the surgery was done by orthopedic doctor and sent me to a surgeon because, um, the leg was not doing well. So I did what I had to do. I cut the grass, I do the snow, I go walking around, I go, you know, all over the place. And they love my attitude. My attitude is don't let it get to you. And this is what I try to convey to other people, and that's my way of giving something back. Uh, like I said, I am, I'm a firm believer in not letting anything get to me. I've had open heart surgery, I've had all kinds of stuff. I am a certified c uh, amputee counselor for the state of PA. So I can talk to people out there. I have a ton of resources to hand them links about what it's like to be an amputee, what can they expect from prosthetics and all this other stuff.
Nina Krammer:
Would it be fair to say that you are a, an extensive user of medical care?
Sal Trentacoste:
Yes, I am. And you know what? That's what it's there for. So I trust my doctors. I'm gonna be 70 in September. Okay. And I am still kicking butt and taking names. <laugh>,
Nina Krammer:
You are the most youthful, almost 70-year-old that I've met. The most energetic, that's for sure. Um, mean, but
Sal Trentacoste:
That's where the, uh, that's where the mentality comes in. You need that type of mentality to overcome obstacles.
Nina Krammer:
I remember when we first spoke, and you with just as much enthusiasm and vigor, uh, we're describing when you first were told by your former employer about the transition away from the benefits plan that had been promised over to Via Benefits and the fear that came with that, um, and some of the, the concerns about what that, that might mean. And can you talk a little bit about what those fears were and how you feel about that now, looking back on it?
Sal Trentacoste:
Sure. The fears I had, uh, was losing the, the great coverage I had, the prospect of losing the. Now, my wife, mind you, she's still getting coverage under public service. But she will eventually, once she retires, gets the same system we're getting. But actually, after working with everybody and having used it now for the last couple years, it has been a blessing in disguise.
Nina Krammer:
When the time comes for annual enrollment every year. Do you use the coverage checkup tool?
Sal Trentacoste:
Oh, always.
Nina Krammer:
Okay, and have you been able to adjust your, your drug plan?
Sal Trentacoste:
I use three prescription drugs that are very expensive.
Nina Krammer:
And your plan covers all or most of it?
Sal Trentacoste:
Hundred percent. It covers 1%, 80% Medicare, 20% Plan F.
Nina Krammer:
Can you remind me, uh, were you a member of a union as well? Is that
Sal Trentacoste:
Yes. I used to be, when I went to college to get my associate's degree in business, I, I got into management. And the last 18 years at worked at MA in management under gas operations in the, the, uh, corporate office
Nina Krammer:
As a union retiree, and I, I'm sure you probably are in touch with other union retirees. What would you say in your opinion, is the most important thing, uh, in your retiree medical benefit?
Sal Trentacoste:
Well, the biggest thing that they have to do is read the documentation that Via Benefits, send out, go to the website, look over everything, make informed decisions. Because if you could just say, I want this, this, this, and this, and then close it off, you're gonna get stuck with possibly something you don't want. I found that out, and believe me, it's a lot of work. There's, there's 144 different insurances and plans, uh, you know, dental plans, uh, prescription plans. You have to do your research and you have to choose plans that are right for your situation.
Nina Krammer:
What about, in your opinion, whether it's a union or someone's employer who is providing retiree healthcare as a benefit, as the benefit itself? What would be the most important factor when you're selecting a plan? Is it access to your preferred doctors? Is it cost? If you had to rank it in order, what would be your most important?
Sal Trentacoste:
First and foremost cost. Cost for retirees is, uh, extremely, uh, expensive. Okay. Second of all, and most importantly, the second one is your doctors. Do you have access to the same primary care or orthopedic doctor or specialist, you know, whether it be an endocrinologist or cardiologist, do you have access to these same doctors? Because if you don't, you have to go through the process of elimination or they have to go through and submit requests for records. That takes time. And if you need medical care, that holds up your care. So it's important to look at whatever plan you have, whatever plans are offered, and make sure that every doctor that you have in that plan and then comfort, are you satisfied with the coverages you picked, the three major ones right there.
Nina Krammer:
And then what advice would you give to Via Benefits?
Sal Trentacoste:
Well, uh, I like the way everybody does their, their job. Everybody is, if you have questions, you can call. And if they, and if they can't find an answer right off the bat, they will call you back with an answer. Too bad via benefits can't push public service to increase the, the prescription and, uh, Medicare benefit, And I know that's something that you can't do. <laugh>.
Nina Krammer:
So what you're were referring to is the HRA, the health reimbursement arrangement where for anybody who's listening, those would be the, the dollars that your previous employer provides to you, uh, to subsidize and offset the costs of healthcare?
Sal Trentacoste:
Yes, and it's, it's a good, uh, aspect because in my situation it's, it's rough because I got a finagle between getting part B back, which, uh, is one thing, uh, or taking my premiums or leaving the money there and using it, uh, for prescriptions and, uh, and if I use it for prescriptions, it is already gone.
Nina Krammer:
What advice would you give to employers now, I know that you said that you would love to, to see more of, um, an HRA benefit or a higher amount, but what advice would you give to employers when they're selecting or evaluating a marketplace? What to consider?
Sal Trentacoste:
Okay. Uh, I would suggest that they look into the, the overall, uh, plan coverages, because that's important. Uh, and then make those decisions based on what the actual consumer's going to be getting. But that's important to, to get the right coverages to the right people, And getting all this information to us as retirees is, is vitally important for us to make the proper choices that we need for our situation.
Nina Krammer:
Now that it's been about three years since that, since we last spoke, has anything changed in terms of what is your favorite thing about having the Via Benefits?
Sal Trentacoste:
Yeah. My favorite thing is having people that work for the company that are knowledgeable, friendly, and have all the answers, if not immediate, within a day or two. Uh, you know, so you can make informed decisions. That's the most important thing there.
Nina Krammer:
Would you say that you are resistant to change?
Sal Trentacoste:
No.
Nina Krammer:
Why is that?
Sal Trentacoste:
It doesn't make a difference how old you are, how young you are. Things happen. So whether you allow them to destroy you or allow them to make you stronger, you know, it's important that you be flexible enough to, uh, to, to look it over the situation and say, okay, this is something I need to do and do it. Don't just procrastinate.
Nina Krammer:
The reason why I asked that question is because a common sentiment among employers is that their retirees are resistant to change. Would you say that's a misconception of theirs?
Sal Trentacoste:
Well, I would say probably about 50% true or 50% not some out there who defy anything that would benefit them because they don't, they're rigid, they don't wanna change. And there's the other half, like myself that, you know, well, look, I see the writing on the wall. I'm gonna have to do this, this, and this to survive.
Nina Krammer:
Well, Sal, it's always amazing to get to speak with you. Um, you really are inspirational for one. Thank you. that you don't let anything hold you back and that you're helping others as well.
Nina Krammer:
You've been listening to Eye on 65, a podcast by WTW. For more information on via benefits and the solutions we provide, visit optimize retiree benefits.com. That's optimize retiree benefits.com.
