Your 2025 Mass Retirees membership renewal is now due. The fastest and most secure way to renew online using the attached form. As a long-time member, your annual membership remains just $40.
To renew your membership online, please visit www.MassRetirees.com/rl2025. You will need to enter your membership number to complete the online transaction. Your number is found on the enclosed remittance slip, as well as on your Mass Retirees membership card. If you would prefer to renew by check, please make it payable to RSCMEA. Please include your membership ID # on the check.
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for being a long-time member of Mass Retirees. While the passing of our cofounder and former Association President Ralph White earlier this year has saddened all of us, it has also provided an opportunity to reflect on our underlying mission – to ensure that public retirees are never forgotten.
The success we have had in 2024 is proof that public retirees are not forgotten! Here’s a quick recap of the victories achieved this year that directly benefit retirees:
- GIC Avoids Cost Shifting: For the 7th consecutive year, the Group Insurance Commission held the line on cost shifting – with no increases in copayments or deductibles. This positive action sends a strong message to municipal governments that is it not OK to unfairly raise municipal insurance costs.
- Special COLA Commission: Not only does the retiree COLA base need a fix, but a new approach is also needed to help long-term retirees keep pace with inflation. At the same time, a new approach to funding COLA increases must be developed. The Special COLA Commission, on which Mass Retirees has a seat, is tasked with tackling these issues and providing recommendations to the legislature by 2/2/2025.
- $10,000 Basic Life Insurance: After years of advocating for an increase in the state’s Basic Life Insurance benefit, the legislature approved a $5,000 increase to the benefit within the FY25 budget. Approved by the governor, the benefit will be set at $10,000 as of July 1, 2025 – the first increase since 1985. This increase had been a personal priority for many years. We are now in the process of working with local retirees to advocate for an increase in life insurance benefits at the municipal level.
- Post Retirement Public Sector Work Task Force: Following a controversial report by the state Inspector General alleging abuse, the legislature has formed a Post Retirement Public Sector Work Task Force to examine the laws, regulations, and oversight of public retirees holding public sector jobs. Our Association also has a seat on the Task Force, which is important given the growing number of members working in a public sector job. We will use this opportunity to advocate for improvements to the rules governing post-retirement work, making the system easier to navigate and fairer. We also believe that both the hour and earnings limits will likely be reviewed.
- Change in Accidental Disability Law: The FY25 budget also contains language amending the return-to-work law for accidently disability retirees, who are seeking to return to active public sector employment in a position other than that from which they retired. While previously prohibited, the new law allows retirees, at their request, to petition for reexamination for return to work in another position or within a different department. This new process will grant accidental disability retirees options for employment that did not previously exist.
It is also important to point out that we have some deep concerns about the road ahead, especially when it comes to defending retiree health insurance benefits. As state and local budgets tighten, there will undoubtedly be calls for belt tightening under the guise of “affordability”. Using the past as a guide, we know that this can lead to cuts to health insurance plans that specifically harm public retirees. A major part of the work done by Mass Retirees focuses on the GIC and state retiree healthcare.
And while the COLA Commission will undoubtedly lead to recommendations for improved benefits, we must then see those improvements passed into law. Based on past experience, we already know this will be a fight with some special interest groups opposing new COLA benefits. However, we are ready to fight this battle and win!
Finally, many members (myself included) are directly harmed by the Social Security WEP and GPO laws. Some 41 years after the law’s creation by Congress, the national debate over the unfairness of WEP/GPO continues.
The good news is that, for the first time ever, we have achieved a super majority of support in both the House and US Senate to end both the WEP and GPO laws. A push is now underway to force a vote in the House in mid-November. We will continue to do everything possible to represent your interests and bring relief from these two unfair federal laws.
While advocating at the federal level is a daunting task, our work here in Massachusetts at both the local and state levels of government is more fruitful. Our success depends on a strong membership, which is why I hope you will renew your membership for 2025. Doing so promptly helps us to better plan for the year ahead.
Thank you for being a member and for placing your trust in Mass Retirees to represent you as a retired state employee.
Please renew your membership today, either online or by check.
With gratitude,
Frank Valeri
President
Mass Retirees Association