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Founded in 1968, now in its 52nd 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.

Senate Passes Landmark Bill to Cut Prescription Drug Prices

The U.S. Senate passed a historic budget bill on Aug. 7 that would help millions of Medicare enrollees better afford their life-sustaining medications and help millions more Americans pay their Affordable Care Act (ACA)...

5% COLA approved by legislature

Awaits Approval By Governor Baker

By: Shawn Duhamel, Chief Executive Officer

Mass Retirees Association

Our efforts to pass a 5% COLA for FY23 took a major step forward this week when the legislature...

Legislature Approves 5% COLA With Local Option

Budget Measure Now Before Governor Baker

JULY 18, 2022: Late Sunday evening, House and Senate budget negotiators unveiled a compromise $54 billion FY23 State Budget. The measure contains a 5% COLA for retired State Employees and Teachers, as well as a...

Governor Signs Post Retirement Work “Waiver” Law

No Hour & Income Restrictions for Non-Disability Retirees In Public Service During 2022

June 10, 2022: Governor Charlie Baker has signed into law H4456 that waives both the hour and income restrictions (imposed by Section 91 of Chapter 32) on...


As the Red Cross moves to a pricey blood treatment method, hospitals call for more choice	Fortune
Experts Expect Stronger Focus on Medicare Price Negotiation Over Drug Importation if Biden Wins	Inside Health Policy
With Washington Deadlocked on Aid, States Face Dire Fiscal Crises	New York Times
State Lawmakers Reach Compromise On $43.1 Billion State Budget	State House News Service
Sound, Fury and Prescription Drugs	New York Times

Latest Articles from The Voice

UNICARE’S INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO BETTER HEALTH CARE

The Shift to Whole Person Health

March 2022 Voice:

As healthcare costs have continued to rise, a major focus of Mass Retirees has been to look for and promote new ideas and solutions aimed at maintaining our members’ health while taking steps to keep insurance costs down.

New WEP/GPO Proposals

Four Bills Now Pending Before the House

Janaury 2022 Voice: Over the course of a week, spanning late October into early November, the number of bills pending before the US House of Representatives to either repeal or reform the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) doubled.

The introduction of two new bills to reform the WEP or fully repeal both the WEP and GPO are proof that our national efforts to draw attention to these issues are working – albeit slower than anyone would prefer!

COLA: Rising Inflation Adds to Urgency

Janaury 2022 Voice: In the past two editions of The Voice, we documented the outstanding long-term investment success of our Massachusetts public pension systems and our belief that the success can and should be shared with retirees by way of improved COLA benefits.

However, there is also a downside to a white-hot economy – Inflation!

President's Message: Share the Success!

September 2021 Voice: There is no question that the tremendous investment success of the Commonwealth and local retirement systems should be celebrated. When modern pension funding schedules were implemented in the mid-1980s, no one could have envisioned the high level of asset gains that would come to fruition over the ensuing 36 years.

Retirees

Public Employees

Ralph White Since 1968 the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association has been the leading voice for Massachusetts public retirees and their families. Join with our 52,000 members as we continue the fight.