Former Amersham Rep: Age to qualify for GE pension?

[Anonymous]

Left GE HEalthcare a few months before GE took over Amersham HEalth in 2004. HAd over 20 years as a rep for Winthrop/ Nycomed/ Amersham. At what age can I start to collect the pension? Used to be 55. Also anyone have the number to call for pension benefits? I think the group handling GE pension benefits is out of Lincolnshire, Illinois. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Left GE HEalthcare a few months before GE took over Amersham HEalth in 2004. HAd over 20 years as a rep for Winthrop/ Nycomed/ Amersham. At what age can I start to collect the pension? Used to be 55. Also anyone have the number to call for pension benefits? I think the group handling GE pension benefits is out of Lincolnshire, Illinois. Thanks.

You left before the world went to h-e-double-hockey sticks. Congrats.

Not sure on the rules for employees who left before November 2004, which is when we went under GE rules. GE early retirement age is 60, Amersham was 55 but those who were at least 50 in November 2004 were "grandfathered" and could retire with full benefits (ie, medical) when they turned 55.

I remember going to a meeting when the GE benefits package was explained. GE is so corrupt ... er, I mean huge ... that they have a subsidary that does nothing but manage the pension plans and 401K plans of companies they bought out.

Anyway, the contact for the "Amersham Health Retirement Plan" is the GE Affiliate Plan Pension Center, PO Box 20, Linconshire, IL 60069-0020; phone 866-229-1079. For identification purposes, the official plan number is 004 and the plan's sponsor's Employee Identification Number (EIN) is 04-2860743.

[Anonymous]

Hewitt Associates I believe was and still is the connection to the plan they are in Lincolnshire , the 800 number you listed answers but you can only leave a message and they say they will get back to you by the end of the next business day, which means phone tag. The number for Hewitt is (847) 295-5000. The number for GE Healthcare on Ridge Road in Arlington Heights is (847) 398-8400 or (800) 526-3593 or (800) 633-4123. Track down Sherry Calabrese on Ridge Road she is a former Amersham employee now an HR administrator.
As a former Amersham Customer Service Rep I can only say that if our customers had to go through all this we never would have sold any product. Good Luck.

[Anonymous]

Hewitt Associates I believe was and still is the connection to the plan they are in Lincolnshire , the 800 number you listed answers but you can only leave a message and they say they will get back to you by the end of the next business day, which means phone tag. The number for Hewitt is (847) 295-5000. The number for GE Healthcare on Ridge Road in Arlington Heights is (847) 398-8400 or (800) 526-3593 or (800) 633-4123. Track down Sherry Calabrese on Ridge Road she is a former Amersham employee now an HR administrator.
As a former Amersham Customer Service Rep I can only say that if our customers had to go through all this we never would have sold any product. Good Luck.