Go Your Own Way: Your Guide to Choosing and Enrolling in the Aon Retiree Health Exchange

Transcription

1 Go Your Own Way: Your Guide to Choosing and Enrolling in the Aon Retiree Health Exchange

2 What s Changing In order to provide Medicare-eligible retirees and their Medicare-eligible dependents with better coverage options at the lowest possible price, beginning August 1, 2015, HSBC will transition from company-sponsored group coverage to individual coverage on the open market made available through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange. As a result, you ll have more coverage options from which to choose and a new way to enroll. What Is the Aon Retiree Health Exchange? It s a private insurance marketplace where you compare coverage, carriers, and prices. You can select individual coverage to supplement Medicare Parts A and B, including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision. You get help from a dedicated Benefits Advisor to select the coverage level and premium that best suit your situation. Why Aon Retiree Health Exchange? When selecting which exchange to use, HSBC wanted a strong provider to support our retirees. We found one who has already been serving you. HSBC has selected the Aon Retiree Health Exchange a part of Aon Hewitt because we feel they are already providing quality service to our retirees with the administration of our retiree health and life insurance plans and as our current pension plan benefit administration partner. When Do I Need to Take Action? Start today! Read this guide and watch for more information from the Aon Retiree Health Exchange. Then learn, prepare, and enroll. Find Coverage Through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange Changing medical insurance is not something you do every day, and we know it s important that you have help in choosing the best plan for you. That s why HSBC has partnered with the Aon Retiree Health Exchange a Medicare coordinator that will work with you to explore your coverage options and prices. In fact, helping retirees like you is all the Aon Retiree Health Exchange does! This guide will help you learn about each step in the process of choosing your own insurance plan to supplement your Medicare benefits. Please read it carefully and share it with your family or other trusted advisors. Did You Know? Many Medicare-eligible retirees may pay less for equal or better medical and prescription drug coverage through individual insurance plans than they do now for the HSBC North America (U.S.) Retiree Health Plan HSBC Post-65 Plan coverage. This is due to increased competition from the open market and has been made available through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange.

3 This guide is organized into five sections 1 Help Is Here Page 2 Every day, the Aon Retiree Health Exchange helps people like you select a new plan to replace their current group coverage. 2 Check Out Your Choices Pages 3 and 4 To help answer your questions, we encourage you to check out the online webinar and educational videos, and to review the education package mailed to your home address. 3 Enroll in a Plan Page 5 A telephone appointment will be scheduled for you to speak with an Aon Retiree Health Exchange Benefits Advisor and to enroll in a new health care plan. You ll need to prepare some information before this appointment takes place. 4 Get Help Paying for Coverage Page 6 HSBC will establish a Retiree Reimbursement Account that you can use to get reimbursed for your health care premiums and other eligible health care expenses. 5 Learn from Other Retirees Page 8 You may have a lot of questions. Get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions from other retirees like you. Why Medicare Isn t Enough You probably already know that for most retirees, Medicare Parts A and B provide some coverage for hospital and medical costs. What you may not know is that there is no limit on the amount of money you could have to pay annually out of your own pocket. We ve partnered with the Aon Retiree Health Exchange so you can find an individual insurance plan that meets the needs of you and your dependents, and to supplement your Medicare benefits to protect you from unexpected medical costs.

4 Help Is Here You are not alone. The Aon Retiree Health Exchange features specially trained and licensed Benefits Advisors who will help you compare, choose, and enroll in the health care coverage that meets your needs all at no cost to you. Your Benefits Advisor You ll be assigned a Benefits Advisor who will work with you every step of the way to guide you through the Medicare insurance marketplace in your area so you can find the right coverage at the right price maybe even a plan with better coverage or a lower cost than you have today. Your Benefits Advisor provides: Knowledgeable guidance and recommendations about local individual insurance options. One-on-one assistance to help you enroll in the plan you choose. Ongoing support to help you if you move or your health or financial picture changes. How Your Benefits Advisor Can Help You Your Benefits Advisor will ask questions to get to know you and understand your needs and preferences. He or she will then help you decide what plans meet your needs and budget based on the insurance options available in your area. Once you choose a plan, your Benefits Advisor will work with you to complete your application, either by telephone or online, and to fill out any forms that might be required. Aon Retiree Health Exchange Benefits Advisors receive no special compensation to enroll you in a specific plan, so you can be sure they ll help you make an objective choice that s right for you. Protecting Your Wallet By law, individual insurance purchased through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange cannot cost more than if you bought it on your own outside of the Aon Retiree Health Exchange. What retirees are saying about Aon Retiree Health Exchange Benefits Advisors 2 My Benefits Advisor took all the time I needed and answered all my questions. She made me feel totally comfortable with the process. His in-depth knowledge of what is needed and grasp of my preferences sped and simplified the enrollment process. My Benefits Advisor was very informative and polite. He spoke so that my daughter who was helping me enroll completely understood. She made a stressful experience as painless as possible. I rate her a perfect 10.

5 Check Out Your Choices May July 2015 Learn More Online To help you learn more and answer your questions, we encourage you to view one of the educational videos available online now at Or, reserve a date and time (in the month of June) to listen to a live webinar on this Web site. Know How to Get Answers to Your Questions We recognize that your health care choices and costs are important. If you have questions, we encourage you to go online to exchangeretiree.com/hsbc. The education package you will receive in June will also help answer many of your questions. In the meantime, for general information, please call the Aon Retiree Health Exchange Hotline at Benefits Advisors (licensed insurance agents) are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday. Please go to for more information. 3

6 Check Out Your Choices, Continued June 2015 Review the Education Package You will receive an education package from the Aon Retiree Health Exchange at your home address. Your education package will include an Appointment Letter with a specific date and time of your assigned telephone appointment, scheduled just for you, to speak with a personal Benefits Advisor. The education package will also include a Medicare Insurance Guide to help you learn more about the basics of Medicare, including the types of insurance plans available to supplement your Medicare benefits. The guide also provides more information about the Retiree Reimbursement Account and offers tips to help you prepare for your appointment. Confirm or Change Your Appointment Your appointment will take one to two hours, depending on whether you and your dependent share the appointment. Medicare will not allow the Aon Retiree Health Exchange to keep this appointment unless you confirm it in advance. Contact the Aon Retiree Health Exchange promptly (either online or by phone) when you receive your Appointment Letter in the education package to confirm your appointment, reschedule it, or let the Aon Retiree Health Exchange know that you have found coverage elsewhere. Explore the Aon Retiree Health Exchange Web site After you ve received an education package, please visit the Aon Retiree Health Exchange Web site at and complete the requested action items to help you prepare for your appointment. For general information about Medicare benefits, Retiree Reimbursement Accounts, or the Aon Retiree Health Exchange, please call Benefits Advisors (licensed insurance agents) are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday. 24

7 Enroll in a Plan Before your telephone appointment with your Aon Retiree Health Exchange Benefits Advisor, make sure you are enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B, and have your card available for the appointment. The Aon Retiree Health Exchange will need your Medicare Parts A and B eligibility dates, which can be found on your card. If you are not already enrolled in Medicare Part B, contact the Social Security Administration today at or by calling (TTY ). You must be enrolled in Medicare Part B to enroll in an individual Medicare insurance plan. Prepare for Your Appointment Collect some information to help your Benefits Advisor determine which plans might be a good match for your preferences and needs, including: A drug checklist with prescription details for you and your Medicare-eligible dependents. Information about where you ll be at the time of your appointment. Confirmation of whether you plan to bring a power of attorney, trusted friend, or family member with you to your appointment. Information regarding any supplement to your Medicare benefits (excluding the HSBC Retiree Health Plan) you may be enrolled in. Write down any questions you have for your Benefits Advisor. Medicare Parts A and B Are Required You must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B to enroll in an individual Medicare insurance plan. If you are not already enrolled in Medicare Part B, contact the Social Security Administration today at or by calling (TTY ). Keep Your Appointment On the date of your telephone appointment, your Benefits Advisor will call you at the appropriate time to help you select and enroll in a plan, provided you have confirmed your appointment in advance. Your Benefits Advisor will walk you through the process, including any actions you need to take such as signing a form or confirming your coverage. If you have asked a power of attorney, trusted friend, or family member to attend the appointment with you, please make sure this person is available at the time of your appointment. 5

8 Get Help Paying for Coverage Your Retiree Reimbursement Account To help you pay for your individual insurance plan, HSBC will establish on your behalf a Retiree Reimbursement Account an account that HSBC uses to reimburse you for health care premiums and other eligible health care expenses. The Retiree Reimbursement Account is a tax-free account, so you do not pay taxes on reimbursements you receive from your account. These accounts also do not bear interest. Retiree Reimbursement Account Limits You will be reimbursed up to the balance in your Retiree Reimbursement Account (including amounts carried over from previous years). If you use your entire balance, you will not be reimbursed for any additional premiums or expenses for that plan year. Any unused subsidy in your Retiree Reimbursement Account at the end of a plan year will carry over for you to use the next plan year. The HSBC subsidy you receive for the following plan year will be added to any remaining Retiree Reimbursement Account balance. Consider This While you are not required to use the Aon Retiree Health Exchange to help you choose your health care coverage, HSBC will not provide you with a Retiree Reimbursement Account subsidy unless you do so. If you are eligible but do not enroll in a plan through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange for the 2015 plan year, you will not be eligible for the Retiree Reimbursement Account in the future. More details about your Retiree Reimbursement Account and the amount of the Retiree Reimbursement Account subsidy will be sent to you with your Aon Retiree Health Exchange education package in June. 6 Why Do I Pay First? In order to keep your eligible reimbursement from being taxed, the IRS requires that you pay it out of your own pocket first. You may then reimburse yourself from your Retiree Reimbursement Account administered by Aon Hewitt s Your Spending Account (YSA). Since your costs for medical and prescription coverage will no longer be deducted directly from your pension check, you can use that extra money, along with your Retiree Reimbursement Account, to offset the cost of individual medical and/or prescription drug premiums.

9 Know How to Use Your Retiree Reimbursement Account Aon Hewitt s Your Spending Account (YSA) service will administer your Retiree Reimbursement Account and manage the reimbursement process. After you ve enrolled in an individual health plan through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange, you ll pay your medical and/or prescription drug premiums directly to the insurance company. You ll then submit a claim to YSA for reimbursement. As soon as payment of your premium has been verified, YSA will reimburse you and reduce the amounts credited to your Retiree Reimbursement Account accordingly. Be sure to ask about our convenient premium auto-reimbursement feature, available to those who enroll in the Aon Retiree Health Exchange. Enroll in a Medicare plan Pay premium to your carrier Carrier informs YSA of amount; YSA pays premium to you You automatically receive $ from your Retiree Reimbursement Account each month If you enroll in a plan that offers premium auto-reimbursement service through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange, confirmation of your premium payments will be automatically sent to YSA for reimbursement from your Retiree Reimbursement Account. 7

10 Learn from Other Retirees Every day, Aon Retiree Health Exchange Benefits Advisors speak with retirees across the country. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions they ve received. Frequently Asked Questions Why won t HSBC be offering a group health plan for post-65 retiree health and prescription drug benefits? The cost of group health plan coverage for retirees has been skyrocketing for years, with no end in sight. And the coverage may not meet the needs of all retirees. More opportunities are now available for retirees to buy individual insurance plans on the open market at a reasonable price, which means increased competition among insurance companies offering coverage to supplement Medicare benefits. The majority of HSBC Medicare-eligible retirees can buy insurance that offers equal or better medical and prescription drug coverage than the current HSBC-sponsored options and may even pay less than they do today. And with the help of a Medicare coordinator like the Aon Retiree Health Exchange, retirees can explore a variety of options at prices that fit their individual needs and budgets. Different plans can be selected for the retiree and his or her Medicareeligible dependents so that everyone s needs are better met. What is the difference between a group health plan and an individual insurance plan that supplements Medicare benefits? A group health plan is generally offered through an employer or association. Everyone covered under that plan has something in common (e.g., employment, former employment, membership), and the population is usually limited based on the size of the company or other group. Plan choices are usually limited and are selected by the former employer or association. An individual insurance plan that supplements Medicare benefits is one that any individual can buy, either directly or through an insurance broker. Depending on where you live, you may have several types of plans available to you. Insurers generally cover many more individuals than do most group health plans, and that means they can offer more competitive pricing to you. How long will the appointment with the Benefits Advisor last? Generally one to two hours, depending on whether you enroll that day, whether you have a joint appointment with a dependent, or whether you include your appointed power of attorney or another trusted friend or family member in the conversation. The length of your appointment will also depend on how much preparation you do in advance. For example, if you go online to the Aon Retiree Health Exchange Web site to enter the requested information (your medical needs, the prescription drugs you and your Medicare-eligible dependents currently take, and preferences such as whether you prefer to pay more for coverage and less when you get care or vice versa), your appointment could be much shorter. See the checklist in your education package for details when it arrives. If health care reform is overturned, will HSBC reinstate the group health plan? No. This decision is not related to national health care reform legislation. 8

11 Do I need to be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B before enrolling in an individual insurance plan to supplement my Medicare benefits? Yes! The Aon Retiree Health Exchange cannot enroll you in an individual insurance plan unless you are enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B. Enrollment in Medicare Part A (which covers hospital services) is automatic for most people, while enrollment in Medicare Part B (which covers physician and medical services) is optional. To enroll in Medicare Part B, contact the Social Security Administration today at or call (TTY ). This step should be completed before your appointment with your Benefits Advisor. Please note this requirement exists under the current HSBC plans and is not a change. What types of coverage are available to me to supplement my Medicare benefits? Generally, there are two options: Medicare Supplement plans and Medicare Advantage plans. More information about these types of plans will be included in the education package you will receive in June. Your Benefits Advisor will help you decide what type of plan is right for you and your Medicare-eligible dependents. Will there be comprehensive Medicare Advantage plans to choose from that include dental and vision coverage? In many cases, yes. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer extra coverage, such as dental, vision, and/or hearing benefits. And most Medicare Advantage plans include Medicare prescription drug coverage, which means you do not have to purchase separate prescription drug coverage. The Aon Retiree Health Exchange can also refer you to a national dental or vision provider. I am Medicare-eligible, but my spouse is not. How will this work? You can enroll in an individual medical and prescription drug plan to supplement your Medicare benefits through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange program. If your spouse is eligible for HSBC health benefits, he or she can enroll separately in the HSBC plan for non-medicare-eligible retirees. When your spouse becomes Medicareeligible, he or she may also be eligible for the Aon Retiree Health Exchange program and a Retiree Reimbursement Account contribution. In order for your non-medicare-eligible spouse to maintain eligibility for the HSBC plan, you must be enrolled in a plan through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange. If your spouse outlives you, they may continue coverage under the HSBC plan for non- Medicare-eligible retirees or under the Aon Retiree Health Exchange program as long as spouse death benefits are available to your surviving spouse under the HSBC plan. Do I need to choose the same plan for myself and my Medicareeligible spouse? No. Unlike the HSBC retiree group health plan coverage, you will have more flexibility to choose the coverage that fits the individual needs of you and your Medicare-eligible dependents. For example, your spouse may need a higher level of benefits or a more robust prescription drug plan than you do (or vice versa). Individual insurance plans give you the option to choose the plan or plans that best meet the unique needs of you and your dependents. 9

12 Learn from Other Retirees My spouse is over age 65 and Medicareeligible, but I am not. How will this work? If you are eligible for HSBC retiree health benefits, you ll receive health and insurance benefits under the HSBC plan for non-medicare-eligible retirees. Your spouse can enroll in an individual medical and prescription drug plan to supplement his or her Medicare benefits through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange program. In order for your Medicare-eligible spouse to maintain eligibility for a plan offered by the Aon Retiree Health Exchange, you must be enrolled in the HSBC plan for non-medicare-eligible retirees until you become Medicare-eligible. My spouse and children are not Medicareeligible. When will they enroll? If eligible, they may continue to be covered under the HSBC North America (U.S.) Retiree Health Plan HSBC Pre-65 Plan until they become eligible for Medicare, or otherwise lose eligibility under the HSBC plan. Prior to the Annual Enrollment period, eligible dependents will receive separate information about dates and actions needed. In order for your non-medicareeligible dependents to maintain their eligibility for the HSBC plan, you must be enrolled in a plan through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange. As a veteran, I have TRICARE insurance. Should I enroll in an individual insurance plan? The best way to answer this question is by speaking with your Benefits Advisor. Keep your appointment to discuss your needs and whether or not your TRICARE plan meets them. In advance of your appointment, contact your TRICARE representative to get guidance on whether enrolling in a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan would in any way jeopardize your TRICARE coverage or eligibility for coverage. I ve seen ads on television about the Medicare Open Enrollment Period. What does this mean for me? Your HSBC North America (U.S.) Retiree Health Plan HSBC Post-65 Plan coverage will end on July 31, 2015, so be sure to enroll in a plan before midnight on July 31 to ensure you have coverage beginning August 1. If you enroll, this fall you will have a second opportunity to review and change your coverage choice during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period between October 15 and December 7. Changes made to your coverage during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period take effect on January 1, The sooner you complete the process, the sooner you ll have your new cards in hand, so don t wait too long to confirm your appointment and find new coverage. What if I ve already left the group plan? If you are already enrolled in an individual insurance plan to supplement your Medicare benefits, the Medicare Open Enrollment Period for coverage that takes effect on January 1, 2016, is October 15 through December 7. If you want to make any changes to your current coverage, you must do so during this time. If you have left the HSBC Retiree Health Plan, you will not be eligible to receive a subsidy for the Retiree Reimbursement Account established by HSBC. Be aware that, depending on the change you need to make, you may be required to answer certain medical questions. 10

13 What if I don t like the plan I enrolled in? Can I change plans after I enroll? With a few exceptions, you ll have to wait until the next Medicare Open Enrollment Period held between October 15 and December 7 to change your coverage. Contact your Aon Retiree Health Exchange Benefits Advisor for help. Aren t Medicare Parts A and B enough? If you do not enroll in a plan in the individual Medicare market, you ll continue to have coverage under Medicare Parts A and B (assuming you are enrolled in both). However, we strongly recommend you find an individual insurance plan to supplement your Medicare benefits. Medicare alone does not limit your out-of-pocket liability, and you could face penalties if you don t enroll during specific Medicare enrollment periods. Go to for more information about when you need to enroll to avoid penalties. Will my medical and prescription premiums continue to be deducted from my pension check? No. You will pay your premiums directly to your new insurance company. Will I get bills from HSBC for my medical and prescription coverage? No. You are responsible to pay your premiums directly to your new insurance company. HSBC will no longer bill you or deduct the cost of your medical or prescription coverage from your pension check. If you currently receive a bill for your dental coverage or optional life insurance coverages, or have the cost of dental and/or life insurance deducted from your pension check, this will continue. We highly recommend you use automatic payment options, like direct debit, with your new insurance plan to ensure timely payments for your new coverage. Am I the only one who can speak to my Benefits Advisor? You are welcome to include your spouse, a caregiver, or another trusted friend or family member in your conversation with your Benefits Advisor. However, only someone with legal power of attorney can enroll for you or sign forms or other documentation. When you confirm your appointment, be sure to let your Benefits Advisor know if someone will be speaking on your behalf and provide his or her contact information. What if I m out of the country during the enrollment period? If you re on vacation, you can still keep your appointment with your Benefits Advisor. Simply let the Aon Retiree Health Exchange know where you ll be during the appointment. If you have established residency in a foreign country, you may not be eligible for the Aon Retiree Health Exchange service. Please check with your Benefits Advisor. Help After You Enroll HSBC has selected the Aon Retiree Health Exchange because its services don t stop after you enroll. Once you ve enrolled in a medical plan through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange, your Benefits Advisor, customer service representatives, and Advocates are available to help you, free of charge. As an enrolled customer of the Aon Retiree Health Exchange, you have access to highly trained Advocates who can help you if you ever find yourself at an impasse with your insurance provider. Advocates are experienced in a variety of Medicare insurance topics, including claims, billing procedures, appeals, and even problems getting appointments with specialists. More importantly, they are caring people who understand that these problems can be frustrating and stressful, and who use their experience to find solutions that offer lasting peace of mind. This type of service is not generally offered if you enroll in an insurance plan through an insurance carrier or broker! 11

14 Learn from Other Retirees Retiree Reimbursement Account Frequently Asked Questions Can I use my Retiree Reimbursement Account to pay premiums other than those for medical and prescription drug coverage, such as for vision coverage? Yes. The Retiree Reimbursement Account is available for reimbursement of certain vision- and hearing-related out-of-pocket expenses, including premiums paid for coverage (even if HSBC does not sponsor that coverage). Can I use my Retiree Reimbursement Account to pay for health care expenses other than medical and prescription drug expenses? Yes. In addition to your premiums, your Retiree Reimbursement Account can be used for copays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket health care expenses. Once your Retiree Reimbursement Account has been established, you can find a full description of these expenses on the Your Spending Account (YSA) Web site or by talking with your Benefits Advisor. My spouse and I are Medicare-eligible. How do the Retiree Reimbursement Accounts work? HSBC will establish a combined account for both the retiree and the spouse in the HSBC retiree s name. Reimbursement of eligible expenses will be available to both the retiree and his or her eligible dependents, as long as the amounts credited to the Retiree Reimbursement Account have not been depleted. Will the Retiree Reimbursement Account continue forever? It is HSBC s intent to continue the Retiree Reimbursement Account indefinitely; however, it cannot be guaranteed. Each year, you will receive notification about the following year s annual subsidy (if you re eligible). If HSBC decides to end the annual Retiree Reimbursement Account contributions, you ll be notified in advance. What happens to the balance in my Retiree Reimbursement Account when I die? If you die before your Medicare-eligible dependent, your surviving dependent will become the account holder of your Retiree Reimbursement Account. The balance in your Retiree Reimbursement Account at the time of your death will be available to Medicare-eligible dependents as long as they qualify for continued coverage after your death. HSBC will continue to provide the Retiree Reimbursement Account subsidy for your dependent, as long as your dependent remains eligible. If you do not have a Medicare-eligible surviving dependent, the Retiree Reimbursement Account is forfeited and no amount is paid out as part of your estate. How can I learn more about my Retiree Reimbursement Account? More details about the Retiree Reimbursement Account (if you are eligible) will be sent to you with your education package in June. 12

15 How is my Retiree Reimbursement Account subsidy determined? HSBC calculated the amount to establish your account (1) for legacy Household retirees, by the percentage previously applied to your coverage available prior to August 1, 2015, or (2) for legacy HSBC retirees, by the amount remaining of your $20,000 lifetime maximum benefit. HSBC intends to review accounts annually, but there is no guarantee that your balance will increase each year or keep up with inflation. Will we receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to the Retiree Reimbursement Account? HSBC intends to review accounts annually, but there is no guarantee that your balance will increase each year or keep up with inflation. Is the Part B premium reimbursable through the Retiree Reimbursement Account? No, the Medicare Part B premium is not reimbursable through the Retiree Reimbursement Account. Are my prescription drug copays reimbursable through the Retiree Reimbursement Account? Yes, your prescription drug copays are reimbursable through the Retiree Reimbursement Account. Can I pay my spouse s group health plan premiums, copays, or other out-of-pocket expenses through the Retiree Reimbursement Account? If your spouse is covered under a before-tax group health plan, for tax reasons, his or her premiums and expenses are not reimbursable through your Retiree Reimbursement Account. I can enroll in my spouse s group health plan as a dependent, but I want the Retiree Reimbursement Account. Can I still receive it if I do not enroll through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange? No. To receive the Retiree Reimbursement Account, if you are eligible, you must enroll in a medical plan through the Aon Retiree Health Exchange. Why can t HSBC just pay my health care premiums for me using the Retiree Reimbursement Account subsidy? For the Retiree Reimbursement Account subsidy to remain a tax-free benefit, the IRS requires that you pay your premiums out of your own pocket first and then request reimbursement through your Retiree Reimbursement Account. Reminder Your education package will arrive in the mail in June. In the meantime, for general information about Medicare benefits, Retiree Reimbursement Accounts, or the Aon Retiree Health Exchange, please call Benefits Advisors (licensed insurance agents) are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday. 13

16 Important Reminder The official plan documents for the HSBC North America (U.S.) Retiree Health Plan and other applicable employee benefit plans (the Plans ) as in effect from time to time during the period you participate in the Plans, if eligible, contain all the provisions of the Plans and are used to determine how the Plans operate, what benefits are paid, and who is eligible to receive them. If there is any conflict between this communication and the official plan documents, the official plan documents will govern. The plan sponsor, HSBC North America Holdings Inc. (HNAH), reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plans and the benefits provided to the extent permitted by law, in whole or in part, at any time and for any reason. The Plans can be amended only by written instrument executed as directed by the Board of Directors of HNAH or by certain designated officers of HNAH. The Plans cannot be amended by any communications or statements, written or oral, made by benefits administrators, HR personnel, or other persons. Therefore, any statements made by such persons that conflict with the official plan documents do not govern the Plans and are not binding on the Plans. Also, any ambiguity in the official plan documents must be resolved through an interpretation of the plan documents by the Plan Administrator. HNAH reserves the right to correct any errors in this communication. Clerical errors or other mistakes, including but not limited to misinformation on eligibility or a miscalculation of benefit amounts, or overpayments of benefits, do not create a right to receive benefits. You will receive written notice if one of the Plans makes a payment to you in error and you must return the amount of the overpayment to the Plan by the deadline specified in the notice. Participation in the Plans does not guarantee, directly or indirectly, employment with HSBC Benefits Advisors (licensed insurance agents) are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday. Aon Retiree Health Exchange is a trademark of Aon Corporation. Your Spending Account is a trademark of Hewitt Associates LLC /2015