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kittycat
Member
66 Posts |
 Posted - 04/22/2011 : 10:34:05 AM
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April 21, 2011
ATTENTION RETIRED TEACHERS AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES
YOUR CURRENT HEALTH INSURANCE IS IN JEPOARDY!!!
Dear Member:
We are writing to ask that you please join us in the fight to protect your right to quality affordable health insurance. As you may know, municipal officials, with the backing of big business and the media, are attempting to dramatically change the manner in which health insurance plans are governed at the local level.
Local retirees and teachers, now insured under the state's Group Insurance Commission (GIC), could also fall victim to these changes. No one is immune; therefore we must work together to preserve your rights and these important healthcare benefits.
Of immediate concern is a proposal, contained within the outside sections of the House FY12 Budget, which would grant complete control over health insurance plan design to mayors and town managers. This would allow local government officials to make unilateral changes to insurance copayments, deductibles and benefit levels without any input or approval from the unions or retirees. In other words, this bill would abolish bargaining rights when it comes to health insurance plan design!
We strongly believe that retirees and labor deserve a voice in the process of establishing health insurance plan design and that the bargaining process must be maintained. To do otherwise is to allow the unilateral increase in out-of-pocket costs upon retirees and employees, without the protection of Medicare Part B Reimbursement or Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs).
The language contained in the House Budget also allows for a city or town to unilaterally transfer its retirees and employees into the state's GIC without input or approval from our Association or the unions. While the GIC has worked well for some communities, it is not a one-size-fits-all proposition and should not be unfairly forced upon retirees and employees without our input.
Together with our friends in labor, we have proposed an amendment to the House Budget (Amendment #749) that would preserve the right to bargain and guarantee that a portion of the savings generated by plan design changes be used for health related programs like Medicare Part B Reimbursement and HRAs.
To date, we've obtained 50 Co-Sponsors to Amendment #749, filed by Reps. Marty Walsh and Jim O'Day (Please see a listing of amendment cosponsors below). Our goal is to reach 81 cosponsors by Monday - the start of debate in the House - which would demonstrate that a majority of Representatives believe in protecting the basic insurance rights of retirees and employees.
We ask that you help us in this fight by personally contacting your local state Representative. With debate scheduled to begin on Monday (4/25) time is of the essence. Here is a link for a listing of Representatives with their phone & email addresses.
If you do contact your Representative, our message can easily be summarized in three key points:
1) Retirees must have a seat at the table and a voice in the overall process: Our amendment calls for the use of coalition bargaining through section 19 for all future health insurance negotiations at the local level. This grants retirees a seat at the table and an automatic 10% weighted vote. Retirees deserve input into plan design changes and any decision to join the state GIC.
2) Medicare Part B Reimbursement: A portion of the savings generated through changes in plan design should be used to reimburse part of the Medicare Part B premium charge to Medicare enrolled retirees, who are producing substantial savings for their municipalities by enrolling in Medicare.
3) Creation of Health Reimbursement Accounts: HRAs are essential to protecting those retirees with chronic illnesses or injuries from exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses that will result from increased copayments and deductibles.
Again, the upcoming debate in the House marks a pivotal moment for retirees. Your right to have a voice in the process of setting the design of local health plans is at stake. We need you help in ensuring that the Voice of Retirees is heard.
Please check our website and hotline for late breaking news on this and other issues of importance to public retirees.
Most sincerely,
Ralph White Shawn Duhamel
Retired State, County and Municipal Legislative Liaison
Employees Association of Massachusetts
The Voice Of The Retired Public Employee
Sponsors of Amendment 749: Mr. Walsh of Boston, and Representatives O'Day of West Boylston, Provost of Somerville, Smizik of Brookline, Stanley of Waltham, Chan of Quincy, Murphy of Weymouth, Alicea of Charlton, Cantwell of Marshfield, Fresolo of Worcester, Turner of Dennis, Garry of Dracut, Andrews of Orange, Lewis of Winchester, Sullivan of Fall River, Dwyer of Woburn, Creedon of Brockton, Canavan of Brockton, Sciortino of Medford, Spiliotis of Peabody, Collins of Boston, Smith of Everett, Atsalis of Barnstable, Wolf of Cambridge, Ashe of Longmeadow, Nyman of Hanover, Brady of Brockton, Fallon of Malden, Fennell of Lynn, Mark of Hancock, Cabral of New Bedford, Coppinger of Boston, Rogers of Norwood, Henriquez of Boston, Swan of Springfield, Ehrlich of Marblehead, Mahoney of Worcester, Finn of West Springfield, Garlick of Needham, DiNatale of Fitchburg, Miceli of Wilmington, Coakley-Rivera of Springfield, Toomey of Cambridge, Garballey of Arlington, McMurtry of Dedham, Devers of Lawrence, Koczera of New Bedford, Calter of Kingston, Balser of Newton, Khan of Newton and Fox of Boston.
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lisa
Senior Member
143 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2011 : 11:57:26 PM
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I happened to stumble upon this posting tonight. Thanks for your help getting the word out. The Senate will be taking this issue up on May 25.
All the best,
Shawn Duhamel |
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DON'T LET THIS PASS, STAND UP FOR YOURSELVES
