By: Ron Ancira

Brothers and Sisters,

I would like to thank our Veterans for their service and to remember our Brothers and Sisters who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and democracy.

As we head into the Holidays, I want to remind everyone to get their Christmas dinner tickets on December 2, 2025 at our Bingo/Chapter meeting if you haven’t gotten them yet. Dues-paying members/Associate members pay $5.00. Non-dues-paying members/Associates pay $25.00.

Attendance for our Holiday dinners is dwindling. At one time, as co-editor of the Searchlight, there were 3 days of dinners for over 15,000 retirees. When I became 2nd Vice Chair in 2017, we had just over 12,000 retirees. Currently, we have approximately 7,900 retirees. So please attend your Chapter meetings and events. Our 2026 events schedule will be coming out in December.

I would like to remind everyone to use your over-the-counter (OTC) card before the end of December. Remember, if you don’t use it, you will lose the balance. In January, it will get rebooted to $400.

The WEX card (VISA card) you received in the mail earlier this year will be going up to $1,000 starting in January of 2026.

We will be receiving our $500 bonus money around the end of third week of December. Thank you to the UAW leadership for them seeing and listening to the needs of the Retirees. We now have our benefits improving every year.

On a final note, please attend your Chapter meetings, events and stay proactive concerning your health.

IMPORTANT RETIREE CONTACT INFORMATION
Retiree Health Care Connect (RHCC)…………..866-637-7555
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET)

Trust HRA Benefit (WEX)………………………………….844-440-4300
Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (ET)
benefitslogin.wexhealth.com

Trust OTC Benefits (CVS)………………………………….844-487-2770
Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. (ET)
uawtrust.org/otcbenefit