12 December 2019 - Martin Cullum

As some of you may have already heard, the newly elected ESO Representative at the GAC-EPA is Erik Allaert. I’m sure you will join me in wishing him well in this activity which is important for the retired staff although usually involves behind the scenes work that is not always obvious to the outside world.

After nearly 10 years serving on the GAC-EPA committee, I am happy to be able to hand over to Erik who I am sure will be an excellent representative. If you need to contact him, he can be reached at the following address: erik.allaert@gac-epa.org .

6 December 2019 - Rein Warmels

The slides from the All-Hands meeting given by the DG on Friday 6 December 2019, are now available from the Pensioners' Document repository.

4 December 2019 - Rein Warmels

The slides of the the Annual Information Meeting of CERN Pension Fund presentation at ESO on 23 October 2019 is available on the internal Documents and Presentations page.

20 November 2019 - Rein Warmels

The viewgraphs of the AMFIE presentation given at ESO on 13 November 2019 is now available on the internal Documents and Presentations page.

6 June 2019 - Rein Warmels

The slides from the All-Hands meeting given by the DG on Friday 6 June 2019, are now available from the Pensioners' Document repository.

11 April 2019 - Rein Warmels

The written text of the Annual Information Meeting of CERN Pension Fund presentation at ESO on 18 September 2018 is now available on the internal Documents and Presentations page.

11 April 2019 - Rein Warmels

The health insurance changes (as per 01/01/2019) mentioned by Sandro D'Odorico in the News item of 30 January are now avalable in a document that has been released by Cigna. For the details please check the document on the internal Documents and Presentations page, under Healthcare.

12 January 2019 - Sandro D'Odorico
Changes in Health Insurance benefits as of 1.1. 2019

Pending an official statement be ESO in the next days, the following changes have been informally announced:

• Optical care:
  Up to now an extra pair of spectacle lenses was covered only in the event of changes of dioptre of at least +1 or -1 within one calendar year. As of 1 January 2019 the extra pair of spectacle lenses within one calendar year is covered for any change of dioptre.  For which a medical prescription/report is needed.
• Skin cancer:
  Until now, for the early detection of skin cancer, the plan covered a check-up every two years for all plan members from the age of 35. This will increase to an annual check-up.
• Midwife:
  The coverage of midwifes will have a separate article (Article 5.2) and will cover pre- and postnatal care by midwifes at a rate of 100%. The postnatal care by a midwife is covered for 10 days after delivery. Any time after that is only covered on medical prescription.
• Hearing aid:
  A dedicated article for hearing aids will be introduced (Article 2.4). The coverage contains, upon medical prescription, a reimbursement of 80% of the costs up to a ceiling of  €1,200 per hearing aid, per ear, per period of 5 years.
• Rehabilitation:
  The daily ceiling established under article 11.2 will be increased from €140 per day to €200 per day. In addition, costs incurred in a rehabilitation centre after outpatient surgery will covered in the same way as after hospitalisation.
• Palliative care:
  The palliative care coverage receives a dedicated article 11.6 which clarifies the reimbursement rate of 100% on medical prescription. Article 11.6 further specifies that palliative care is covered on the condition that it is performed by qualified medical personnel. Inpatient palliative care is covered in hospital, in a palliative care centre or in a hospice. Outpatient palliative care is covered when performed by a palliative care team or outpatient hospice service.
• Transport costs (Taxi):
  It is further clarified in article 12.2 that taxi costs are reimbursed at a rate of 100% to and from the following outpatient ambulant treatments: dialysis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The following documents must be provided and mention the same date of service/treatment: 1) taxi invoice and 2) medical report confirming the treatment.