Healthcare Meetings Draw Hundreds, Some Turned Away

Traffic stalled outside of the Diplomat banquet hall on Lyell Avenue in Rochester.

"Horrendous, the traffic was lined up between here and Long Pond Road," said Jack DeWaal, a Kodak retiree who was turned away two times before because the early morning meetings were filled.

Hundreds upon hundreds of Kodak retirees came to hear what other options MVP could give them.

If and when Kodak cuts healthcare benefits at the end of December.

"The last few years I haven't had to pay anything, now I will the question is how much," said Ralph Willoughby, an 89-year old Kodak retiree.

Willoughby said his pension from Kodak hasn't increased since he retired 30 years ago, he says the only thing that helps is Social Security.

"It's either going to be in neighborhood of $33 or $192 and I can not afford that," said DeWaal.

So many retirees came to the MVP healthcare meeting that some had to get turned away at the door.

"You people scheduled 6 meetings, that's 3500 per meeting, who is the wizard that figured that out?," yelled one retiree.

An MVP employee responded," It wasn't me, I'm just giving the bad news right here."

MVP workers tried hard to pack as many people inside the banquet hall.

They added extra chairs and even brought people into the hallways to help explain benefit options.

The insurer said it knew there was a lot of interest but didn't expect the traffic jam or the hundreds that showed up.

"I think the reality of coming closer to a decision and maybe the people who didn't come to the last round many want to see what their options are going to be with MVP and we are seeing a really large turnout," said Patrick Glavey, MVP Executive VP of Government Programs.

Some people were turned away once or even twice at the day's two earlier meetings.

"I left, I got lunch and got back here before 1 pm," said Tom Williams, a Kodak retiree.

"I think better planning or a larger place," said Barbara Lincoln, a Kodak retiree who used to do customer service.

MVP has more meetings planned and will now expect a big crowd.

"We are going to strategize and plan to see if we need to prepare for 600 per meeting next week," said Glavey.

Those other meetings are scheduled for Friday, November 9 at the Holiday Inn at the Rochester Airport and Burgundy Basin.

Meeting times are as follows:

Friday, November 9 at 9am and 11am at the Holiday Inn, Rochester Airport, 911 Brooks Avenue, Rochester, NY for MVP

Friday, November 9 at 2pm at the Burgundy basin, 1361 Marsh Road, Pittsford, NY for MVP

Excellus is also holding meetings at 2pm and 4pm at the Strong Museum on Tuesday, November 6.