Articles about Legislation that may be useful to Massachusetts retirees.
JUNE 19, 2018: Mass Retirees is calling for your immediate help in advocating for our legislation that will permanently protect local retirees from future increases in the percentage of the health insurance premium that you must pay. Today, the House will begin debate on the H4617, a bill relative to healthcare reform in Massachusetts and consider an amendment that provides this basic protection to all local retirees – including retired teachers.
Mass Retirees Call on House to Increase Basic Life Insurance: Adopt Amendment #99
State retirees and active employees are urged to contact their State Representative and ask that they support AND vote to adopt Amendment #99 to H4617. This proposal would increase the state’s Basic Life Insurance benefit to $10,000, utilizing a small portion of the Group Insurance Commission’s projected $99 Million surplus as a funding source.
Increases Annual Hour Limit to 1,200
May 22, 2018: The State Senate has voted to increase the hourly limit placed on retirees who return to part-time public service for a state or local entity in Massachusetts. Senators Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport) and Paul Feeney (D-Foxboro) cosponsored the measure as an amendment to the FY19 Budget, now under debate in the Senate.
Focus Now Rests With Health Care Reform Legislation
April 27, 2018: On the fourth day of debate within the House of Representatives on the FY19 State Budget, Mass Retirees officials received disappointing news – the amendment pertaining to the State Basic Life Insurance was not adopted.
Last Raised In 1985 – Retirees Urged to Call State Reps
April 23, 2018 – Mass Retirees has launched an all-out push to increase Basic Life Insurance benefits for state retirees and employees. The current $5,000 benefit was established 33-years ago in 1985.
Retirees Back Life & Health Insurance Amendments
April 18, 2018: Mass Retirees backs four amendments to the FY19 budget, which is set to be debated in the House beginning April 23rd. The amendments range from increasing the basic state life insurance, protecting against increases in local health insurance contribution percentages, lifting hourly restrictions on part-time work in public service and granting Mass Retirees a seat on the state’s Group Insurance Commission.
5 Key Issues Advanced By Public Service Committee
Association members received good news this month when the Joint Committee on Public Service favorably released five key bills filed by Mass Retirees. The bills apply to the veterans bonus, basic life insurance, Option C recalculation, post retirement earnings, and the right of surviving spouses to retain health insurance benefits upon remarriage.
Healthcare Reform Bill Advances
The start of a New Year, ending in an even number, sets the stage for what will be a busy seven months on Beacon Hill. Under House and Senate rules, formal business within the State House ends on July 30th during the second year of the legislative session.
Passage May Clear Path For WEP Reform
DECEMBER 21, 2017: Now that Congress has passed and President Trump has signed federal tax reform legislation into law, analysis is underway on what it means for retirees.
Litany of Bills Before Public Service Committee
At its first public hearing kicking off the fall legislative calendar, the Joint Committee on Public Service heard testimony on a litany of bills related to retiree and employee life and health insurance.
Since 1968 the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association has been the leading voice for Massachusetts public retirees and their families. Join with our 62,000 members as we continue the fight.
