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ANNUAL JUNE LUNCHEON

Space is Limited, Reserve Your Tickets Today!

MAY 11, 2012: June is just around the corner and with it comes our Annual Greater Boston Luncheon to be held on June 22, 2012 at 12:00 noon. Once again, it will be held at the Holiday Inn, Route 1, Dedham.

Our Annual Spring Luncheon is a great opportunity to enjoy lunch with your former coworkers and fellow retirees, while hearing the latest retirement and healthcare news from Association officials. Guests are always welcome at our events as well.

BUDGET DEBATE UNDERWAY IN HOUSE

3% COLA Approved & GIC Rates Maintained

APRIL 25, 2012: This week, debate is underway in the House of Representatives over the Fiscal Year 2013 State Budget. The weeklong debate will consider over 850 amendments to the $32 billion budget proposal.

GIC STATE RETIREES & SURVIVORS UNDER MEDICARE

OME Rates Clarified

APRIL 18, 2012: For the overwhelming majority of Medicare eligible retirees insured through the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC), the insurance plan of choice has long been the Optional Medicare Extension (OME) Plan run by UniCare. Typically, most OME subscribers also include CIC coverage with their basic plan.

COMMISSION FOCUSES ON HEALTHCARE FINANCES

COMMISSION FOCUSES ON HEALTHCARE FINANCES

Recent Insurance & Pension Reforms May Lower Costs

APRIL 6, 2012: On Thursday, the Special Commission to Study Retiree Healthcare held the first of its seven scheduled meetings at the State House. With 9 of its 11 members present, the Commission heard from a series of experts who outlined the complex issues under consideration.

HEALTH CARE COMMISSION GETS UNDERWAY

Focus On Retiree Insurance Cost

APRIL 3, 2012: As we have previously reported, the Association will take part in the Special Commission on Retiree Health Care that gets underway Thursday, April 5.

The eleven-member Commission, created within Chapter 176, Acts of 2011 (Pension Reform), is tasked with further exploring various means by which retiree health insurance costs might be lowered.

McGOLDRICK RE-ELECTED TO STATE BOARD

McGOLDRICK RE-ELECTED TO STATE BOARD

Theresa McGoldrick, without opposition, has been re-elected to a 4th three-year term on the State Retirement Board.

McGoldrick serves as one of the State Board’s two elected members along with Ralph White. State Treasurer Steve Grossman is the Board’s chairman, retiree Pat Deal is an appointed member and SEIU Local 509 Political Director, Chris Condon the fifth member is elected by the other Board members. Nick Favorito is the Board’s Director.

PENSION BOARD APPOINTS LEGAL CHIEF

PENSION BOARD APPOINTS LEGAL CHIEF

MARCH 22, 2012: The Commonwealth’s Public Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) has voted the appointment of Attorney John Parsons to the post of PERAC General Counsel. This key position had become vacant when Barbara Phillips, longtime General Counsel, retired. Phillips had been with PERAC and its predecessor PERA since 1984.

GIC ANNUAL ENROLLMENT APRIL 9 – MAY 7

15 Statewide Health Fairs Scheduled

MARCH 19, 2012: The Commonwealth’s Group Insurance Commission will hold its annual Open Enrollment period from April 9 through May 7, 2012. During this period, all retirees and employees insured under one of the GIC plans may switch their insurance coverage.

During this time period, the GIC will hold a series of Health Fairs across the state - fifteen in all.

PENSION OVERSIGHT BOARD APPOINTS COMPLIANCE OFFICER

PENSION OVERSIGHT BOARD APPOINTS COMPLIANCE OFFICER

MARCH 6, 2012: Tom O’Donnell has been named by the Public Employees Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) to oversee the new retirement education program and pension fund investment reporting requirements for members of our state’s 105 public retirement boards.

GIC APPROVES 1.43% FY13 PREMIUM INCREASE

No Copay/Deductible Changes

March 2, 2012: Providing good news to those state, teacher and municipal retirees it insures, the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC) has approved its lowest insurance premium increase since 1999 – just 1.43% across its eleven different plans. Rate changes are effective for Fiscal Year 2013, which begins July 1, 2012.