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Retired-State-County-And-Municipal-Employees-Association-Of-Massachusetts

Founded in 1968, now in its 50th year of serving retired Massachusetts public employees of the 104 public retirement systems within the Commonwealth, the Association is widely recognized as one of the strongest independent advocacy groups on Beacon Hill. From public pensions and health insurance, to federal issues such as the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision, Government Pension Offset and Medicare the Association leads the fight exclusively for all Massachusetts retired public employees. We are The Voice of the Retired Public Employee.

GIC Open Enrollment Ends Today, May 1st

MAY 1, 2019: The month’s long open enrollment for the state Group Insurance Commission’s (GIC) health and dental insurance plans ends Wednesday, May 1, 2019.

Open enrollment provides an annual opportunity for the 430,000 state and municipal retirees and employees...

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“Opening Day” For Public Service Committee
“Opening Day” For Public Service Committee

Survivor Remarriage Bill Among First Heard 

APRIL 9, 2019: A City of Boston home-rule petition allowing surviving spouses to retain their health insurance coverage upon remarriage was among a dozen bills heard before the Joint Committee on Public...

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GIC Annual Enrollment Now Underway
GIC Annual Enrollment Now Underway

Benefit Fairs Begin April 10th

APRIL 3, 2019: The state Group Insurance Commission’s annual open enrollment period began today and runs through May 1st. For the 430,000 enrollees insured by the GIC, the open enrollment period...

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NOT WAITING FOR OTHERS TO ACT
NOT WAITING FOR OTHERS TO ACT

Mass & Texas Lead National Fight To Reform WEP/GPO

MARCH 27, 2019: Working in conjunction with the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA), Mass Retirees has reinitiated an all-out effort to pass legislation to reform the Social Security...

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From The Media
Once Again State Pension Fund One of the Best Boston Globe
Trump thanks federal employees with $143.5 billion in retirement cuts Washington Post
LEGIS, BAKER ACT TO SAVE RETIRED TEACHERS ON HEALTH INSURANCE State House News Service
BILL POISED FOR FAST TRACK TO AVOID HEALTH INSURE $$$ SPIKE FOR RETIRED TEACHERS STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
Cigna to Buy Express Scripts in $52 Billion Health Care Deal New York Times

Latest Articles from The Voice

WEP Reform Work Continues

WEP Reform Work Continues

Neal & Brady Push Bipartisan Effort

When gauging whether or not legislation may have a chance of advancing through Congress or the State Legislature, a telltale sign is the level of staff activity happening behind the scenes.

This spring brought a distinct uptick in activity surrounding the proposal to reform the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) from a widespread network of organizations advocating for reform. Most importantly, the work was not limited to WEP reform advocates.

Municipal Retiree Insurance Moratorium Expired June 30th

Fight Continues For Permanent Protection

 

Senate Approves Changes to Retiree Work Restrictions

Increases Annual Hour Limit to 1,200

During its debate on the FY19 State Budget,  the Senate has voted to increase the hourly limit placed on retirees who return to part-time public service for a state or local entity in Massachusetts. Senators Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport) and Paul Feeney (D-Foxboro) cosponsored the measure as a floor amendment to the budget.

State Life Insurance Increase No Easy Task

Budget Amendments Rejected

For more than a decade, Mass Retirees has fought for an increase in the state’s basic life insurance benefit for retirees and active employees. Our goal is to increase the benefit to $10,000.

As members know, the current $5,000 benefit was established in 1985. After 33 years, the benefit no longer satisfies its original intent – to cover retirees’ funeral and burial expenses. According to the National Association of Funeral Directors, costs in Massachusetts well exceed $5,000 and can easily surpass $10,000, even for modest arrangements.