Social Security Fairness Act: 3.1 Million Retirees Received $14 Billion in Payments
September 9, 2025NewsLess than seven months after being signed into law by President Joe Biden, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced ...Read More - Social Security Fairness Act: 3.1 Million Retirees Received $14 Billion in Payments
Mass Retirees Legislative Update: Association Bills Receiving Public Hearings
September 9, 2025NewsSince the July edition of The Voice, the public hearing process has picked up pace. According Nancy McGovern, Director of ...Read More - Mass Retirees Legislative Update: Association Bills Receiving Public Hearings
COLA Commission Work Continues: Focus on Creating Enhanced Benefit
September 9, 2025NewsWhile local retirement systems continue to focus on incrementally increasing their respective COLA base, the work of the state’s ...Read More - COLA Commission Work Continues: Focus on Creating Enhanced Benefit
Locals Continuing to Increase Their COLA Base: Nineteen Systems Increase Fy26 Base
September 9, 2025NewsOver the past 5 fiscal years (FY22- FY26) Mass Retirees is pleased to report that local retirement systems have continued ...Read More - Locals Continuing to Increase Their COLA Base: Nineteen Systems Increase Fy26 Base
Investment Returns & Funded Ratios for 104 Retirement Systems
September 9, 2025NewsKey Factors Impacting a COLA Base Increase Earlier in this Voice (page 1) we reported on the 2024 Investment Report ...Read More - Investment Returns & Funded Ratios for 104 Retirement Systems
Spring Conference Highlights: Mass Retirees Officials Participating in Panels
September 9, 2025NewsFrom June 1st to the 4th, the Association joined the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems (MACRS) at its 2025 ...Read More - Spring Conference Highlights: Mass Retirees Officials Participating in Panels
State Retirement Board Improves Operations
September 9, 2025NewsEstimated Benefit Payment Plan Plays Significant Role A recently issued follow- up Audit by the Commonwealth’s pension oversight agency ...Read More - State Retirement Board Improves Operations
Retirement Boards Elections & Appointments
September 9, 2025NewsBelmont – Ross Vona, a firefighter, was unopposed and was reelected to the Belmont Retirement Board. Ross is beginning his fourth ...Read More - Retirement Boards Elections & Appointments
Medicare 2026 Part B Premiums: Projected Double Digit Increase
September 9, 2025NewsLater this fall CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) will be announcing the Medicare Part B Premiums for next ...Read More - Medicare 2026 Part B Premiums: Projected Double Digit Increase
Valeri Announces Reelection for the State Retirement Board
September 8, 2025Breaking News, NewsMass Retirees President Frank Valeri has announced he will be a candidate for reelection to the State Retirement Board. Since ...Read More - Valeri Announces Reelection for the State Retirement Board
Healthcare Affordability: As Collaboration Takes Shape
September 6, 2025NewsOur lead article in the July edition of The Voice was an editorial spelling out our deepening concerns regarding healthcare ...Read More - Healthcare Affordability: As Collaboration Takes Shape
Substantial Gains for Mass Retirement Systems: PERAC Issues 2024 Investment Report
September 6, 2025NewsAnnually, the state’s public pension oversight agency, PERAC (Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission), publishes an Investment Report that summarizes ...Read More - Substantial Gains for Mass Retirement Systems: PERAC Issues 2024 Investment Report
Neilon Appointed Executive Vice President: Retired as MTRS Asst. Exec. Director & CFO
September 3, 2025Breaking News, NewsWith the passing of Executive VP Paul Shanley, Association President Frank Valeri fully recognized the importance of filling his position ...Read More - Neilon Appointed Executive Vice President: Retired as MTRS Asst. Exec. Director & CFO
The urgency of tackling health care affordability
July 28, 2025From the MediaThe system is buckling under the weight of soaring costs of drugs and medical care by SARAH ISELIN, president and ...Read More - The urgency of tackling health care affordability
Wellpoint-IBIS Health Clinical Trial
July 25, 2025NewsWith Recruitment Phase Nearing End, Results Expected Next Year More than two years into its partnership with Wellpoint, Senscio Systems ...Read More - Wellpoint-IBIS Health Clinical Trial
One big disaster for Massachusetts health care
July 17, 2025News, From the MediaApproximately 326,000 Mass. residents are expected to lose insurance coverage under Trump’s big tax and spending cuts bill ...Read More - One big disaster for Massachusetts health care
Social Security Eligibility 101
July 7, 2025Weekly News UpdateThe following was first published as the Mass Retirees Association's weekly news update on Friday, June 13, 2025. Each ...Read More - Social Security Eligibility 101
COLA Commission: Begins Discussions on State and Teacher Benefits
July 2, 2025NewsThe Special Commission on State and Teacher COLA improvements recently held its second meeting on March 10th. During this meeting ...Read More - COLA Commission: Begins Discussions on State and Teacher Benefits
Medicare Program Continues Push
July 2, 2025NewsCMS Begins 2nd Cycle of Negotiations Since its creation by IRA, the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (P.L ...Read More - Medicare Program Continues Push