Latest News

New Law to Strip Social Security Numbers From Medicare Cards

WASHINGTON — Concerned about the rising prevalence and sophistication of identity theft, most private health insurance companies have abandoned the use of Social Security numbers to identify individuals. The federal government even forbids private insurers to use the numbers on insurance cards when they provide medical or drug benefits under contract with Medicare.

Agreement Between GIC and U-Mass Medical

Open Enrollment Begins

APRIL 7, 2015: At the proverbial 11th hour, U-Mass Medical Group agreed to a new contract with the state’s Group Insurance Commission and its basic indemnity plan carrier, UniCare.

For months U-Mass Medical had baulked at agreeing to a new UniCare contract, despite repeated attempts by the GIC and UniCare officials to broker a deal. The dispute was reportedly due to a disagreement over reimbursement rates paid to U-Mass. Officials claimed that the rates offered by the GIC through UniCare were too low.

Eastern Mass. Meeting

Mass Retirees will hold its annual Somerville, MA meeting on Friday, April 10th. The meeting begins at 11:00 AM and lasts approximately 90 minutes. All members are welcome to bring a guest. Door prizes will be drawn for those in attendance.

Holiday Inn Somerville, 30 Washington St., Somerville, MA

Baker’s early retirement plan could see House vote this week

By Joshua Miller
Globe Staff  March 23, 2015

In a boost for a key part of Governor Charlie Baker’s budget plan, Speaker Robert A. DeLeo Monday backed a pension-sweetening early retirement program that Baker proposed to help close a gnawing state budget gap.

DeLeo said the House of Representatives intends to vote as soon as this week on the plan, which works to entice thousands of state workers to retire early by offering them a chance to boost their pensions by crediting them with up to five additional years of age or work.

Leominster Area Meeting

Friday, March 27, 2015

11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Double Tree By Hilton (Formerly Four Points Sheraton)
99 Erdman Way
Leominster, MA
Rt. 12, Fitchburg Leominster
Exit 12 off Rt. 2

Early Retirement Proposal Under Legislative Review

Baker Plan Limited in Scope

MARCH 9, 2014: Last week, Governor Charlie Baker proposed the first early retirement incentive (ERI) plan in nearly twelve years as a means to avoid potential layoffs of some 4,500 state executive branch employees.

Blue Cross vastly expands quality-based payment systems

Globe Staff  March 05, 2015

The Massachusetts health care industry’s traditional system of paying doctors for every office visit, test, and procedure may be nearing its end.

GIC INSURANCE PREMIUM COSTS GOING UP

Governor Proposes Higher Employee Contributions

MARCH 5, 2015: Monthly insurance premiums for the 425,000 enrollees of the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) will increase starting in June.

The increase in monthly premiums is the result of higher medical inflation across nearly all GIC plans. Essentially, the price of medical care and prescription drugs is once again on the rise.

Baker Proposes 3% State-Teacher COLA

FY16 Budget Takes Effect July 1, 2015

MARCH 4, 2015: Governor Charlie Baker has included a full 3% COLA for retired state employees and teachers in his FY16 budget proposal filed today. The COLA would be applied to a $13,000 base.

COLAs for local, county, regional and district retirees are established locally and administrated by local retirement systems. At the local level the COLA base ranges from $12,000 to $18,000 – an amount determined by the retirement board and local legislative body.

State to offer early retirement deals; layoffs may follow

Baker to start by offering enhanced-pension deals, hopes for 4,500 takers

By Joshua Miller Globe Staff  March 02, 2015

Facing the prospect of a daunting state budget gap, Governor Charlie Baker will file legislation this week aimed at enticing thousands of state employees to retire early. But if the move does not generate the expected savings, workers will be laid off, a top official said Sunday.

Goldberg brings competitive nature to treasurer role

Goldberg brings competitive nature to treasurer role

By Beth Healy
Globe Staff  February 24, 2015

Deborah Goldberg settles into a chair by the fireplace in the state treasurer’s office, the first woman to take residence there in a dozen years. She has rearranged the furniture, living-room-style, to be more inviting.

CVS CareMark Retained by GIC

Reduces Costs by $145m Over Three-Years

FEBRUARY 18, 2015: Following an extensive search process, the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) voted to retain CVS CareMark for at least another three-years beginning July 1, 2015. The Rhode Island-based firm has been the pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) for the GIC’s UniCare plans since 2010.

GIC APPROVES 2016 COPAYMENT & DEDUCTIBLE HIKE

Association Deeply Opposes $60m Cost Shift

FEBRUARY 17, 2015: Over the objections of our Association and union representatives, the Commonwealth’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) voted to increase copayments and deductibles for Fiscal Year 2016, beginning July 1, 2015.

While this increase marks the first of its kind in more than five years, Association officials strongly oppose what we view as further cost shifting onto the backs of retirees and employees who utilize their insurance benefits.

Association Opposes Increased Copayment & Deductibles

Association Opposes Increased Copayment & Deductibles

GIC Holds Annual Public Hearing

February 4, 2015:  Association officials were present and offered testimony at the state Group Insurance Commission’s (GIC) annual public hearing held today at the State House.

ATTENTION STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM MEMBERS

ATTENTION STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM MEMBERS

THERESA MCGOLDRICK ENDORSED FOR STATE RETIREMENT BOARD

Retired state employees who are members will shortly receive a ballot for a very important election. As you know the State Retirement Board has two elected members who serve on staggered three-year terms – Ralph White and Theresa McGoldrick. 

RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ISSUE 2014 1099

Blizzard May Cause Postal Delays

JANUARY 29, 2015: Tax documents for retired Massachusetts public employees are now in the process of being issued by the 10 retirement systems.

The IRS gives retirement boards (and all employers) through January 30th to issue 1099s to those retirees and surviving spouses who received a retirement allowance in 2014. Some systems have already mailed the forms to retirees. All members should receive their 1099 document by the end of the first week of February.

RETIREE LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE FILED

14 Proposals For 2015-16 Session

JANUARY 16, 2015: The Association has completed the filing process for its 2015-16 Legislative package. Under joint House-Senate rules, the deadline was Friday, January 16, 2015 at 5:00 pm.

All told, fourteen separate bills make up the Association’s proposal for the new session that began on January 7th and lasts through the first Tuesday in January 2017. Bills will shortly be assigned numbers and be assigned to various committees for review.

DISABILITY EARNINGS UPDATE NOW LAW

Legislature & Patrick Act at 11th Hour

JANUARY 8, 2015: Moments before taking his “lone walk” down to the front steps of the State House on his final evening as Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick signed into law our Association’s bill adjusting the outside earnings limits of accidental disability retirees – now Chapter 492, Acts of 2014.

Winter 2015 Association Meetings Approach

Pompano Beach, Tewksbury and St. Petersburg Locations

The Association will be holding its annual winter membership meetings in January and February. Association members are encouraged to attend and welcome to bring a guest. Please note, all Association meetings now begin at 11:00am unless otherwise noted.

GIC REPORTS $120 MILLION DEFICIT

Adds Pressure to Growing State Budget Gap

DECEMBER 19, 2014: As reported in the January 2014 edition of the Voice, the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) is grappling with a significant budget deficit for the current fiscal year.

However, it now appears that the problem is more significant than previously thought. At today’s GIC meeting, Executive Director Dolores Mitchell characterized the deficit as being “north of $120 million” – some $70 million higher than previously thought.

WARNING SIGNS FROM GIC

Budget Shortfall Could Trigger Benefit Changes in 2015

NOVEMBER 21, 2014: At its monthly meeting, the state’s Group Insurance Commission discussed a growing concern for the health plan administrators, as well as our Association – a growing multimillion dollar budget shortfall, combined with a downturn in state tax collections. 

Brady & Neal Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Repeal Windfall Elimination Provision in Social Security

Retirees Would See Current Benefits Increased

NOVEMBER 15, 2014: This week marked the first significant development toward providing retirees with relief from the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) in several years.

On Thursday, Congressmen Richard Neal (D-MA) and Kevin Brady (R-TX) filed H.R. 5697, The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act. The bill is the direct result of nearly a year’s worth of collaboration between our Association, the Texas Retired Teachers Association and Ohio Retired Teachers.

Retiree Questionnaire Offers Insight on Positions

Coakley Responds, While Baker Declines

OCTOBER 24, 2014: Earlier this month the Association mailed a six-part questionnaire to all five Massachusetts gubernatorial candidates. The goal was to learn the candidates’ views toward public retirees, defined benefit pension plans and retiree health insurance benefits.

Retiree Association Backs Maura Healey For Attorney General

Retiree Association Backs Maura Healey For Attorney General

Vows to Make Affordable Health Care A Priority

Boston – The 62,000 member strong Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association “Mass Retirees” has endorsed Maura Healey for Attorney General.

The Association cites Healey’s public service background and, specifically, her work on health care issues as the reason for the endorsement.

Deb Goldberg for state treasurer

The Massachusetts state treasurer could stay busy with the basic responsibilities of managing the state’s cash flow and debt. But the holder of the office has a much broader portfolio, overseeing the state school building fund, lottery, alcoholic beverages commission, public pension fund, state retirement board, and other duties. The position demands an executive with high energy and wide-ranging experience. That candidate is Democrat Deb Goldberg.