While $5,000 might have been sufficient for a proper burial on December 23, 1985, the bill’s signing date, it most certainly wouldn’t cover today’s funeral costs. When the law was originally passed back in 1955 the then-$2,000 was loosely know as “burial insurance.” But, when the Group Insurance Commissioners voted last October to sponsor an increase in the current $5,000 coverage to $10,000, they omitted those who most need burial coverage - the retirees.

Back in 1985, the three unions, represented by Commissioners Eleanor King, John Burns and Ron Harding, plus the retiree Commissioner Madeline Sullivan were all in favor of both retirees and employees being included in that year’s increased coverage. But this last October not one Commissioner objected when Governor Romney’s chief mouthpiece, Commissioner Peter Schwarzenbach, proposed employee-only coverage.

“We have long memories,” said Association President Ralph White. “We (retirees) sponsored the 1985 legislation which included both employees and retirees, and are sponsoring it again this year. I’m also quite certain that we will have the support of active employees.” In the January “Voice” we credited those members of the Legislature who worked so hard on our behalf, especially Representative Frank Woodward, House Chairman of the Insurance Committee, who sponsored the necessary bill (H4861) which resulted in Chapter 648.”