Issues

Retirees Fight For a Voice on Group Insurance Commission

Fate Rests With House/Senate Budget Conferees

JUNE 21, 2017: Members who are insured under the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) are asked to contact their State Representative and Senator in support of a proposal granting Mass Retirees a seat on the board governing the health insurance plan.

Saugus retiree increase warranted

JUNE 15, 2017: The approval of the Saugus retiree COLA cap from the $12,000 to $14,000 was reasonable, overdue and justified because of the current financial success of the Saugus retirement system.

Saugus Town Meeting members increase pension benefits for retirees

Town Meeting members approved a cost of living adjustment that will mean more monthly pension benefits for retired town employees.

 

Senate Approves Major Restructure of State GIC

Senate Approves Major Restructure of State GIC

Mass Retirees Gains Commission Seat

MAY 24, 2017: Wednesday morning the Massachusetts Senate approved a major restructure of the state’s Group Insurance Commission, granting our Association and two additional public employee unions seats on the 17-member Commission.

Mass Retirees Fights Rising Insurance Costs

Budget Amendment Caps Payments

APRIL 14, 2017: Together with an AFL-CIO backed coalition of public employee unions, Mass Retirees has sponsored an amendment to the FY18 House budget proposal that lowers the cap on out-of-pocket health insurance costs.

Mass Retirees Endorses Paul Shanley For PRIM Board

PRIM BALLOTS DUE - Tuesday, MAY 9th

APRIL 10, 2017: For those retired members of STATE Retirement system who have not submitted ballots for this very important election at the State Pension Reserves Investment Management board (PRIM); Please vote on-line before Tuesday, May 9th  before 5pm, or by mail, postmarked before such deadline!

“Its essential we continue to have a voice on the investment arm of our state pension system, please vote for Paul Shanley”, Association President Frank Valeri.

Remembering Senator Ken Donnelly

Remembering Senator Ken Donnelly

Loyal Friend and Staunch Retiree Advocate

APRIL 7, 2017: The news of Senator Ken Donnelly’s passing on April 2nd after an 8-month battle with brain cancer was met with great sadness on Beacon Hill, across the firefighter community and amongst our members.

Donnelly, a retired Lt. from the Lexington Fire Dept. was not only a Mass Retirees member, but maintained a close friendship and collaboration with our Association dating back three decades.

Your guide to the most contentious parts of the GOP health-care plan

As printed by the Washington Post, March 24th.

Is the Republican health-care plan a return to freedom or a watered-down version of Obamacare? Will Republicans placate their base with a major legislative achievement, or will this be the party’s undoing for a generation of voters?

We’ve published the most incisive arguments from health experts and our columnists in the two weeks since Republicans unveiled this bill. As the debate reaches a climax, we’re giving you a guide to that commentary — pro and con, divided by subject matter:

GIC Sets FY18 Insurance Rates

GIC Sets FY18 Insurance Rates

OME Plan To Increase 1.6%

MARCH 3, 2017: This week the Commonwealth’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) voted to set insurance plan rates for FY18, which begins July 1.

Rates for the popular Optional Medicare Extension (OME) plan will increase by 1.6%. Last year rates for this plan decreased by 7.1%.

Retirees not eligible for Medicare, who are insured under the GIC’s Indemnity Plan with CIC coverage (run by UniCare) face a 3.6% increase. The average increase across all GIC sponsored plans is 3.8% for the coming year.

Retirees Push Back on Cost Shifting

GIC Lowers Medicare Copayment