Category: Chair Talk

By Bob Kopasz At our November 3, 2023 Coordinating Council Meeting we had Bethany Beauchine, Keri Rust and Alexis, a new staff member from Employee Benefits give the program. We learned that rates for Health, Dental and Vision were not going up. Recently you should have received the Retiree Benefits Bulletin. HANG ON TO IT!… Read more

By Bob Kopasz I would like to thank all the SERA members, and friends, that sent me get well cards in the past couple of months. I am still in therapy and am getting better and stronger each day. Again, thank you for the cards, they have brightened my days. I have heard that some… Read more

By Bob Kopasz A couple weeks ago I received an email from Kathie Vaught (Lansing Chapter) suggesting that I do an article about the difference between the Medicare “Wellness visit” and an annual physical examination in our Preventive Care list we have in our Medicare Advantage PPO. Lo and behold a few days later I… Read more

By Bob Kopasz The Coordinating Council held their first meeting in a new location (Delhi Café) last Friday the 7th of April. The room was smaller than the previous location that we had held our CC meetings, but the new location is large enough for our needs. The food and service was excellent. We will… Read more

By Bob Kopasz Based upon the Financial Report from Jane Wallin indicating that we may have 4 years before we face not being able to fulfill our obligations, I propose the following changes to the CC bylaws and Council policies (effective January 1, 2024) as a means to save money: Legislative Rep: $750 Alternative: ?… Read more

By Bob Kopasz Well, here we are ending another strange year. COVID-19 is still here with many new variants that are requiring us to take more boosters/shots to fight off the disease. It’s my belief that the COVID-19 boosters will be another annual vaccination just as the flu shot is. Hopefully no State Retirees have… Read more

By Bob Kopasz I received the below email from ORS about Federal Tax Withholding: 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. Read more

By Mary Pollock Lawmakers won’t be in Lansing very much in the run-up to the voting period of September 29 (when early absentee voting at your clerk’s office begins) and November 8 (the last day to vote). There is uniform apprehension about being away from their districts on the part of over 80 of the… Read more

By Bob Kopasz The JEC for Pharmacy Benefits has chosen OptumRx to continue as the provider of the Prescription Drug Benefits for Active State Employees and Retirees. The SERA representative that participated on the JEC was James Borer, President of the Coldwater Chapter and a retired Pharmacist. When I was talking with Bethany Beauchine (Employee… Read more

By Bob Kopasz The August 5th Coordinating Council meeting will be held at the Citizens Forum at Marquette’s Lakeview Arena at 10:00 a.m. Registration is at 9:00 a.m. at which time, coffee and rolls will be available. Reservations are necessary and must be made either by email or phone with 906 Chapter President Tony Grudnoski:… Read more