Chair Talk Archive
2020 |
|
|
I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!... |
|
|
Retirees were notified in the Retiree Benefits Bulletin that Physician’s Health Plan would be offering a Medicare Advantage Plan starting January 1, 2021... |
|
|
The Michigan Civil Service Commission and Michigan Department of Technology, Management And Budget have approved another Memorandum of Understanding for Retiree Health Benefits... |
|
|
This year’s election is proving to be a hotly contested one and will probably be historic. For those of you that have been hunkering down at home and getting quite bored, you might consider volunteering... |
|
|
On July 13, 2020 an Interagency Memorandum of Understanding for Retiree Health Benefits was approved by the Civil Service Commission. The MOU had changes in the current Medicare Advantage Plan that were beneficial... |
|
|
The Friday, August 7, 2020 Coordinating Council meeting will be a conference call... |
|
|
I have been researching this issue extensively to try and provide some direction/suggestions to SERA members and retirees who are on Medicare as to what decisions you will need to make by July 1st when this law goes into effect... |
|
|
I hope that all SERA members and retirees are healthy and safe. These are unusual times and we need to take care of ourselves — we are in that vulnerable age group that is more susceptible to the Coronavirus disease... |
|
|
I sincerely hope that all retirees participated in the 2020 Census. I hope you have filled out the form and mailed it in, responded to the questions by phone or answered the questions online... | |
|
I was recently informed by Employee Benefits that Benefits For Life — Retiree Open enrollment will be held May 25 – June 19 this year... |
|
|
I have been communicating with Wayne Maybaugh (Office of the State Employer) about SERA’s assistance to promote the upcoming 2020 census. It’s important that our state has an accurate count of... |
|
|
I received the below e-mail announcing the new Director of the Office of Retirement Services... |
|
2019 |
|
|
The Medicare Advantage meetings held in the State from 10/1 to 11/22 are over. By the numbers... |
|
|
There have been 23 Medicare Advantage Informational meetings held so far (not including the SERA Chapter meetings) in Michigan... |
|
|
Retirees will soon be receiving the 2019-2010 Retiree Benefits Bulletin. The Bulletin will explain the Benefit Enhancements that take effect on October 1... |
|
|
On August 26th I received the following statement from Employee Benefits Director Bethany Beauchine... |
|
|
Arrangements have been made to have the Friday, August 2 SERA Coordinating Council meeting to be held in Marquette... |
|
|
I have added 3 new members to the SERA Legislative Committee. New members of the Committee are... |
|
|
John Bantjes (89) died on Friday, March 22, 2019. John had been a longtime SERA member belonging to the Grand Rapids Chapter. John was an active member of the SERA Coordinating Council, serving as Chair... |
|
|
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the SERA members and friends for all the get well wishes that were sent to my wife... |
|
2018 |
|
|
State Retirees will see a “bump” in their pension checks on October 25. The increase will be $25 per month/capped at $300 per year... |
|
|
I received the below e-mail from Employee Benefits regarding the Shingles Vaccine... |
|
|
Governor candidates position on PA 38 (Pension tax)... |
|
|
In the May CHAIR TALK, I forwarded some information I received from Employee Benefits regarding 0 copays for certain statins (Lovastatin, Atorvastatin and Simvastatin)... |
|
|
Here is the documentation we received from OptumRx... |
|
|
In late March, State Retirees received an e-mail or a letter informing them that a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was made to the Office of Retirement Services... |
|
|
The contract for the Vision Care Benefits will be over soon. A Joint Evaluation Committee (JEC) is being formed... |
|
|
In January, BC/BS distributed a letter identifying a processing error in medical vision claims. Apparently VSP was processing/paying a portion of the medical eye exam... |
|
2017 |
|
|
I have received several phone calls, e-mails and a couple letters about the recent change in the State’s new accounting system. The new system went into effect on October 2... |
|
|
On October 2, 2017 the Supreme Court denied the petition for Writ of Certiorari. There was not an explanation for the denial given... |
|
|
Gary Supanich the attorney handling the Okrie case attended the CC meeting on Friday, August 4th. Gary gave a status report on... |
|
|
On June 28, 2017, Attorney Gary P. Supanich filed a Petition for a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court. The State’s response is due... |
|
|
On Monday, May 15 I attended the Lapeer Chapter of MARSP (Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel) and gave them an update on the Okrie lawsuit... |
|
|
During the month of April, many retirees received a letter from Optum Rx informing them that because of their prescription history Optum has determined... |
|
|
The majority of calls and e-mails I have received over the past 3 months since our Prescription Drug Provider has changed from MedImpact to... |
|
|
Bethany Beauchine (Employee Benefits Director) attended the SERA Coordinating Council on March 3, 2017. Bethany spoke to the group about... |
|
|
Lauri Schmidt, Employee Benefits Director will be retiring effective March 1, 2017. Lauri has 38 years of service... |
|
|
Employee Benefits had recently informed me that the letter from Optum Rx (dated November 30, 2016) about the Medicare retiree having... |
|
2016 |
|
|
In November state retirees were mailed a Retiree Benefits Bulletin that explained the Prescription Drug Manager change for retirees enrolled... |
|
|
In the October 2016 SERA-Nade, some incorrect information was given regarding the new prescription provider... |
|
|
State retirees will see a 3% increase (capped at $25 per month $300 annual) on their October 25th pension payment... |
|
|
I have made arrangements for a presentation about: In Home Care and Senior Residences ... |
|
|
Don’t forget to attend the oral arguments on the Okrie vs State of Michigan scheduled for Tuesday, June 7th. We would like to fill the courtroom with SERA members... |
|
|
I have been invited to speak at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) at their Michigan Convention May... |
|
|
I have received an Interagency Memorandum of Understanding for Retiree Health Benefits that has received Interim Approval and will have to be approved by... |
|
|
On Thursday, February 11, 2016 I attended the first meeting of the new State of Michigan Retirement Board. The new Retirement Board was formed by Governor... |
|
|
Cheryl Streberger and I had a meeting with Employee Benefits and Civil Service staff about retiree health care. There has not been a decision yet as to whether the additional health benefits that were bargained for active employees will be passed on to retirees... |
|
2015 |
|
|
On October 27, 2015 Gov. Rick Snyder signed an Executive Order creating the State of Michigan Retirement Board.... |
|
|
The speaker/program for the November 6th Coordinating Council meeting will be Gary Supanich. Mr. Supanich is the attorney representing Tom Okrie in the pension case... |
|
|
Retirees will begin receiving Benefits Bulletin from the Civil Service Commission for fiscal year 2015-2016. There are no changes in health benefits... |
|
|
Retirees that are enrolled in the State Health Plan PPO will soon be receiving a mailing about an added discount program for hearing aids. This plan is in addition to... |
|
|
The SERA/GBS agreement was signed on May 8th and has an effective date of May 15, 2015. On that same day, the agreement between GBS and the Hantz Group was also signed... |
|
|
I recently received an e-mail from Gary Supanich (attorney representing Tom Okrie in Okrie v Michigan pension case) that he is working on an appeal... |
|
|
We have been notified that the Coalition for a Secure Retirement-MI(CSR-MI) is having their 1st Annual CSR-MI Lobby Day at the Capitol... |
|
|
January had quite a few frigid temperatures, February opened with a snow storm in the Midwest and North East snarling traffic and causing innumerable accidents. We are still... |
|
|
I hope everyone had great holidays. I also hope that you are staying warm in these frigid winter temperatures... |
|
2014 |
|
|
Currently prescription drug co-pays do not apply to the out-of-pocket max, however this rule will change in October 2015... |
|
|
There seems to be some confusion as to when the dates of certain health benefit changes are effective. I talked to... |
|
|
SERA Chapter Presidents will be receiving the SECC retiree brochures... |
|
|
As of this date we have not been notified about the final decision on retiree healthcare co-pays, deductibles or coinsurance... |
|
|
The current agreement extension with VBS regarding the SERA-PLUS program ends on August 14, 2014. I have received and distributed... |
|
|
I was recently informed that effective June 1, 2014 the cost of a trust offered under the SERA-PLUS program will... |
|
|
It appears that the winter of 2013/14 may be over at last. I am sure we all thought that spring would never arrive... |
|
|
The following information was taken from the Medicare Generation Rx Formulary. There appears to be questions/confusion as to how a Formulary... |
|
|
Cheryl Streberger and I met with Jan Winters (Director OSE), Lauri Schmidt and Danielle Leutz (CSC) on Wednesday, February 12, 2014. The discussion at this meeting involved the State’s cost of health care and drugs for retirees... |
|
|
As you all know, on January 15, 2014 the Civil Service Commission voted 3-1 to adopt the Impasse Panel Recommendations and place all state employees in the New... |
|
|
The SECC 2013 campaign is over and retirees donated $8,220.00 this year to their favorite charities. The donations made by state retirees... |
|
2013 |
|
|
On Tuesday, December 3rd, Mary Pollock and I received copies of the Impasse Panel Recommendations that are a result of the bargaining impasse... |
|
|
Senate Bill 652 would transfer the Court of Claims from the 30th Judicial Circuit (Ingham Count Circuit Court) to the state Court of Appeals... |
|
|
On September 20, 2013, Mary Pollock, Dave Reusser and I met with Tim Easterwood to discuss a “new” consulting agreement that would take the place of the current Voluntary Benefits Solutions (VBS), America’s Professional Services Association... |
|
|
On Wednesday, September 4th I was invited to speak at the DNR/DEQ Retirees Association. This organization has been in existence since 1962 and is made up of state retirees... |
|
|
In early July, the JEC recommends that Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan be awarded the contract for the CSC Vision Benefit Plan... |
|
|
The August 9th SERA CC meeting will be held at BJ’s Restaurant (990 N. Center Rd.) in Gaylord, MI... |
|
|
I am devoting this month’s Chair Talk on the SERA-PLUS program that we are involved in. We are into our 16th month ... |
|
|
Well, we are 4 months into the new prescription plan. Many of the problems that were experienced in the first couple of months have been resolved and the calls/e-mails have slowed... |
|
|
The calls/e-mails I have been receiving about the new Prescription plan have slowed down quite drastically. The implementation process has not been too bad and is about what I had expected... |
|
|
Due to weather conditions we had to cancel the February Coordinating Council meeting. We have rescheduled the meeting to Thursday, March 7, 2013. I have asked the same speakers... |
|
|
There still seems to be a lot of confusion about the new prescription drug program. I (as well as other SERA officers/Chapter Presidents) have been getting many calls and e-mails with ... |
|