Chair Talk
October 2010
I have been informed by Employee Benefits that the State’s retiree health plan will not expand the dependent coverage to children up to the age of 26. Only the active employee health plan will be expanded in accordance with the recent federal legislation health care reform. From what information I have been able to track down most retiree health plans are not expanding that coverage to adult children up to the age of 26. The statement that will be used by BCBSM’s call center is:
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) allows adult children to be covered up to age 26. Retiree coverage under the State Health Plan PPO or Blue Care Network is not subject to the insurance market reform provisions of PPACA. The eligibility guidelines for dependent coverage have not changed. If you have questions or concerns regarding the eligibility guidelines for continuing coverage for dependent children, you can contact Office of Retirement Services at 1-800-381-5111.
I have not received many calls/e-mails about problems with health care coverage or prescriptions so those areas must be calming down. As I had said earlier there are no changes in our health plan scheduled for this year. I believe that there probably will be some changes we will be dealing with for October of 2011. Based upon the economic situation in Michigan and depending on how the state elections turn out in November — we should probably expect changes next year.
The elections are less that a month away and I trust that State retirees will be involved in the election process. I am most concerned about the proposal on the ballot to convene a constitutional convention. I would ask retirees to think long and hard on this proposal. Currently, our pensions our protected by the Michigan Constitution and I fear the consequences for state retirees if the constitution is open for extreme changes.
State Employees and Retirees always seem to be an easy target. Many people think we are paid too much, have more health benefits than we deserve and our monthly retirement amounts are too high. We have worked long and hard for what we are compensated and probably (in most cases) deserve more than we actually get. Our health benefits are good but we have paid the price for those too. Our deductibles go up, co-pays go up and prescription co-pays go up. Most of the time the pensions do not go up at the same rate as health care costs rise. But we are still an easy target. Most public employees/retirees everywhere are targets too.
REMEMBER TO VOTE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND!!!!!!!!!
Editor’s note: Bob Kopasz is Chair of the Michigan SERA Council. He may be reached at P.O. Box 692, Mt. Morris, MI 48458; phone 810/240-8380
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