MARATHON RETIREE'S CONCERNS Marathon Petroleum Health Care Changes Concern Retirees
Reported by: Dave Benton
Videographer: Kenney Barnette
Web Producer: Dave Benton
Reported: Oct. 16, 2012 5:33 PM EDT
Updated: Oct. 17, 2012 9:12 AM EDT
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Catlettsburg
, Boyd County
, Kentucky
Howard Fuller worked at the Catlettsburg Refinery, now owned by Marathon Petroleum for 45 years. Like many big companies, health care coverage for retirees is changing. Fuller will soon have to purchase his own health insurance.
"It's like a punch in the gut. We've had group insurance for years, then all the sudden, you got to fend for yourself."
The company says it's offering broader choices to its retirees. In a statement, spokesman Shane Pochard says, "Our new approach to providing coverage is to allow retirees to buy individual policies through a private medicare supplement exchange. MPC is providing a generous subsidy to each retiree as well as his/her spouse in order to assist in paying the premium for this coverage."
Howard's wife Valerie says a new plan will affect her as well. "Two of my drugs I can't get under a drug plan which is going to cost 300 dollars a month extra. It's terrifying because you don't know what's going to happen. We built these companies and they're kicking us under the bus."
Retirees will have until December 31st to make health insurance changes.
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Dave Benton
