"It's a methodical brainwashing procedure originally initiated by Acting Governor Jane Swift last year, and escalated by the GIC via form letters to aggrieved members," declared Association President Ralph White.

"Letters promulgated by both Dolores Mitchell and her communications director, Cynthia McGrath, state that 'reimbursements were an unusual benefit we were happy to provide when we had the funds to do so.'

"The fact of the matter is that the state's payment of its share of Medicare Part B has always been held to be sacrosanct. Medicare is the retirees' primary carrier and the Commission is in fact saying that paying its share of Part B has been a gift, not an obligation."

Our Association's Shawn Duhamel points out that the City of Waltham now pays 100% of its retirees' Medicare Part B. "Waltham doesn't consider payment of Part B to be an unusual benefit, but rather recognizes that their retirees save the city money by participating in Medicare. Medicare members have saved the state hundreds of millions of dollars. The approach that the GIC is taking is shameful and disgusting," said Duhamel. "Members should continue to flood the GIC with letters. Remember, Dolores Mitchell earlier said that there were 'few complaints'."

"It's our Association's intent to involve ourselves in the GIC's next budget. It's an obligation of the GIC to include Part B money in their budget. If the Governor or Legislature knocks the money out, that's their job, not the GIC's. We'll never go away on this one," said White.

Our office has been deluged with angry letters and calls. The following are typical:

Ceto L. Gonsalves - 82 years old; retired 1977 from MCI Bridgewater: "I am very disappointed in the GIC and I don't think they are representing retirees. They lied when they lured retirees into the HMO plan and lied again when they forced us into the Medicare plan."

Mary Zrebiec - 80 years old; retired 1982 from Taunton State Hospital: "My husband and I are very saddened to lose our Part B refund check. The state (GIC) saves a lot of money by us being on Medicare. How heartless can they be?"

Richard Beale - Retired 1996 from Mass. Rehab Comm.; lives in Scituate: "When I learned of the attitude and action of Delores Mitchell and the GIC I was mad and disgusted. I could have cursed for hours. Who the hell do these people think they are? No one elected them to anything. I would like to know to whom I should write to vent my feeling - Senator, Representative, Governor, etc.?"

Joan Kosarick - Retired from Mass. Maritime: "The action of the GIC in discontinuing to reimburse the Part B Medicare payment is outrageous. It was a promise that was made and has been in effect since 1966. The retirees are being shortchanged while the state saves millions on our backs. The Governor and the GIC are being less than honest. A promise is a promise."

Rudy Santos - Retired from the Dept. of Mental Health; lives in Onset: "Evidently the GIC commitment doesn't mean a thing. The pension check decreases because of the action of the GIC. With friends like them, we don't need any enemies."

Manuel C. Rosenfield - Retired 1996 from UMass Dartmouth (professor): "It's criminal! To expect the seniors to bail out the state's mismanagement. They picked on the group that was most vulnerable and least able to suffer the burden. To expect people on small fixed incomes to absorb a $704 hit is criminal."

Elizabeth VanDusen - Retired from Weymouth schools (teacher): "We were told we had to take Part A & B Medicare, if we wanted to select GIC and that if we did, that the GIC would reimburse us for the Part B payment. Now to renege on that promise is despicable."

Tina & Jim VanScoy - Both retired 1994 from Cape Cod Community College (Tina, a secretary and Jim, a lab technician in the science department) live in Centerville; "This is terrible! The GIC action will cost us an additional $1,408. Are they trying to drive us all to HMOs?"

Ben Lentini - Retired 1994 from the State Lottery Commission; lives in Everett; "This hurts a lot of people who are struggling to make ends meet. I don't know of any wealthy retirees. In fact, their pension keeps on getting smaller. The GIC is shameful."

Charlie Buckley - Retired from Mass. Highway; lives in New Bedford: "I'm appalled! I thought I had a commitment, a contract. The GIC action hurts the little guy, those of us who are on fixed incomes. They cost my wife and I $1,408. It's like they picked our pockets. And those phony letters they send out sounding like the past Part B payment was a favor."

Dick Golas - Retired from Westfield schools (teacher): "I was devastated to hear about our Part B loss. I have the mandated OME plan and without reimbursement, I'm paying $33.54 each month more than my wife who has the GIC indemnity plan. No wonder those in the GIC/Medicare mandated programs are furious. Where is the fairness? What is the next step of the Association? How can I help?"

John Boyle - Retired from State Treasury; lives in Randolph: "I'm enclosing a copy of the 'fluff-off' letter I received from the GIC. I'm particularly disturbed that the Commission has avoided the budgetary process in making this change from a long-standing policy. Whatever benefits we lose in tough times are never restored when the good times return."