Important:  Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreements with the Retiree Committee and LTD Committee (the “Settlement Agreements”) and the bankruptcy court’s orders approving the Settlement Agreements, the U.S. Debtors have terminated the Retiree Welfare Plans and the LTD Plans, as defined under the Settlement Agreements, in their entirety and have discontinued the provision of benefits thereunder as of June 30, 2013.  The information on this site is available solely for purposes of filing claims for the payment or reimbursement of benefits incurred under the Retiree Welfare Plans and the LTD Plans prior to June 30, 2013 in accordance with and subject to the terms of the relevant benefit plans and the Settlement Agreements.  For more information on the Settlement Agreements, please visit the site for “Former Employees.”.

Important:  Pursuant to the bankruptcy court’s order approving the Joint Motion Pursuant to Sections 363 and 105 of the Bankruptcy Code, and Bankruptcy Rules 9019 and 7023 to (I)(a) Preliminarily Approve the Settlement Agreement Regarding Long-Term Disability Plans and Claims, (b) Conditionally Certify a Class for Settlement Purposes Only, (c) Approve the Notice Procedures, and (d) Schedule a Fairness Hearing; and (II)(a) Finally Approve the Settlement Agreement, (b) Finally Certify a Class, (c) Authorize the Debtors to Terminate the LTD Plans, and (d) Grant Related Relief (the “Joint Motion”), the U.S. Debtors terminated the LTD Plans, as defined in the Joint Motion, in their entirety and have discontinued the provision of benefits thereunder, as well as the continuation of coverage through COBRA, as of June 30, 2013.  Please note that the final order approving the relief sought in the Joint Motion is binding on all individuals who were receiving or were eligible to receive benefits under the LTD Plans, including the U.S. Debtors’ COBRA participants.  The information on this site is available solely for purposes of filing claims for the payment or reimbursement of benefits incurred under the Retiree Welfare Plans and the LTD Plans prior to June 30, 2013 in accordance with and subject to the terms of the relevant benefit plans and the Settlement Agreements.  For more information on the Settlement Agreements, please visit the site for “Former Employees.”

Retiree Benefits

Retirement
Your retirement from Nortel is a qualified status change that affects your eligibility for Nortel health benefits. When you leave Nortel, health care coverage for you and your covered dependents will continue until the last day of the month in which your employment ends (unless specified otherwise in a separation agreement). For information about eligibility and coverage, refer to the Retiree Summary Plan Descriptions.

Regardless of whether you’re eligible for Nortel Retiree Medical and Life Insurance coverages, employee health care coverage for you and your covered dependents will continue until the last day of the month in which you retire. However, you have the option to temporarily continue your coverage at your own expense through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), as amended. If you want to continue health care coverage through COBRA, you have only 60 calendar days from the date of your qualified status change to choose this coverage. Please be advised that although you may be entitled to receive COBRA continuation coverage under Nortel’s group health plan from the date your employment with Nortel ends through a period of 18 months (or in certain circumstances, 36 months), under COBRA, your continuation coverage may terminate sooner in the event Nortel ceases to maintain any group health plan.

Important: If you’re eligible for the Nortel Networks Retiree Medical Plan when you retire from Nortel and elect to continue medical coverage through COBRA, you automatically will give up your right to enroll in the Retiree Medical Plan forever.

If you’re eligible for the Nortel Retiree Life Insurance Plan, you can enroll for retiree life insurance coverage for yourself only. If you’re not eligible for retiree life insurance coverage, you can continue your current life insurance coverage for yourself and your covered dependents by converting your coverage to an individual policy. To convert your coverage, you must apply and pay your first premium within 31 days after your coverage ends or within 15 days after you receive written notice of the conversion privilege, whichever is later. If you want to convert your term life insurance to an individual policy, contact HR Shared Services at 1-800-676-4636, which will provide you with a letter summarizing your conversion options.

Allowable Benefits Continuation When You Retire