I have been retired from IBM since 12/31/1996. I transitioned from the IBM Health Plans to One Exchange (now VIA Benefits) in 2013. Prior to the transition, there was no HRA available to retirees. Since I had HRAs from two different companies when purchasing insurance through VIA Benefits it was a difficult decision to decide whether to stay with VIA Benefits thus keeping the other company's HRA while losing the IBM HRA or switch to United HealthCare and keep a reduced IBM HRA while losing the other company's HRA. I didn't make up my mind until the very last day of the offer (in December 2022) when I decided to switch to United Health Care. I didn't hear much from United Health Care about the HRA until I received an envelope in the mail in early January. It looked like it was a piece of junk mail with a credit card application. Luckily, I opened the envelope and found two HRA Master Card Debit Cards (one for me and one for my wife). I had my first healthcare appointment on Jan 9th and used the debit card to pay my CoPay. I had my second appointment on Jan 11th and used the Debit Card to pay for that CoPay. So far I have had no issues with Health Care providers refusing my insurance (one test was the 2nd provider that I went to on Jan 11th as they had refused my previous Aetna plan in December 2022).
So far I can say I am pleasantly surprised with how well the process has worked for me Vs the process where we transitioned to One Exchange that was a stove piped, inflexible operation that couldn't do much of anything. You couldn't even get in touch with a manager that could help you resolve a problem.
Am I happy I lost the $1800 HRA from the other company I retired from? NO. However, I suspect they will also follow IBM's path within a short time as VIA Benefits really screwed up the HRA for that company and would borrow from the upcoming year's expected deposit to pay a bill that exceeded the authorized budget for the current year. When I left VIA Benefits they had borrowed several hundred dollars against the expected 2023 HRA deposit from that company but will never receive it.