Link to Computer Training Classes for Retirees! (posted 2/1/10)

Link to Retirees' News and Notes 2/10

Link to Retirees' News and Notes 1/10

Link to Schedule of Retirees Executive Board and General Membership Meetings

         A&R Retiree Chapter officers preparing the Holiday Party mailing.

A&R Retirees Chapter Officers

Joella Bouchard Mudry, President          Mary Ann Goggin, Vice-President

Win Heimer, Secretary                                     Yvette Levesque, Treasurer

Ellen O’Donoghue, Executive Board         Anna Crawford, Executive Board

Mary Joan Herbst, Executive Board         Candace Hall, Executive Board

A&R Retiree’s Council email address: andr.retirees@yahoo.com 

On behalf of the newly elected officers, I would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the outgoing officers of the Retirees Council for the past years of service and dedication.

Next, I want to thank you, in advance, on behalf of the new officers of the Retirees Council for your support. A flyer was mailed to you introducing each of those elected.

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the A&R Retiree’s Council email address: andr.retirees@yahoo.com. This email address will give you an opportunity to communicate with each and every one of your officers at any time. Also, we are planning to enhance A&R’s Website so we can keep you informed of the Council’s activities and accomplishments.

We welcome you and urge you to consider future participation in committees yet to be formed, and express any ideas you may have for the progress of the A&R Retiree Council. We are looking to expand areas such as: social, political, and the sharing of information that will benefit our retirees and their families.

In Solidarity,

Joella Bouchard Mudry

A&R Retirees' Chapter Election Rules

Download the New A&R Retiree Council's Constitution (posted 8/27)

Mandatory Generic Prescription Substitution Applies to Current and Retired Employees (posted 8/10)

What does "mandatory generic substitution" mean? It means that if you insist that the pharmacist give you the prescribed brand-name drug, when a generic equivalent is available, with only "dispense as written" on the prescription you will pay the difference in cost between the brand name and generic drug plus the generic co-pay ($5 or $3 depending on retirement status). If you want to avoid this charge, which averages approximately $100 per prescription, you must accept the generic drug or seek a medically necessary exemption.

How do we get a medically necessary exemption? Our doctors have to send a fax to Caremark explaining why it's medically necessary for us to take the brand-name drug instead of the generic drug. "Dispense as written" will no longer be sufficient. To avoid paying the difference in price between the two drugs, you will need a medically necessary exemption to obtain the brand-name drug if a generic equivalent is available..

When current state employees recently ratified the SEBAC agreement it contained the following language: "The prescription benefit plans will have mandatory generic substitution except that a physician may authorize an override based upon medical necessity certified by the physician in accordance with the PBM’s process."

"PBM" stands for "Pharmacy benefit manager', in our case CVS Caremark. CVS Caremark's procedures are what we and our doctors will have to follow. This aspect of the SEBAC agreement affects all current employees, and all retirees no matter when we retired.

Apparently, state law does not provide for retirees negotiating their retirement benefits. Only the representatives of employees currently on the "active" payroll have bargaining rights under statute.

For the section of a handout from the Office of the State Comptroller on this subject, including the grace period and the telephone numbers to call to initiate the medically necessary exemption process use this link. 

Medical Insurance for Children Ages 23 to 26 Available for Children of Retirees

Public Act 08-147 requires group health plans to provide coverage for unmarried children up to the age of 26, regardless of the child’s student or dependent status. A Comptroller's  memorandum explains how the Public Act will be implemented under the State of Connecticut Employee Health Plan. The effective date of implementation is January 1, 2009. To download the Comptroller's Memorandum on this insurance use this link. For the rate chart use this link. To download the agreement SEBAC signed to get pharmacy added to the coverage (only medical was required by statute) use this link.

Please read the Memorandum and rate chart carefully and completely. The Fair Market Value of the insurance for the child who is not a dependent under §152 of the Internal Revenue Code is taxable income to the retiree, and the retiree is required to include the Fair Market Value for this benefit in their taxable income. Retirees with questions as to the tax impact of the inclusion of the Fair Market Value of health benefits for non-qualified children are advised to consult their personal tax advisor.

Lawsuit Filed for Recalculation of Retirement for Those Who Retired before the Longley Decision (posted April 30)

Filed in the United States District Court, District of Connecticut, on behalf of Brian Belanger, Albert Sheary, Richard Judd and all others similarly situated, the suit claims:

It is not known how long it will take for the Courts to hear and decide the case.

For a complete copy of the original Longley decision click on this link.

AFT has sent national membership cards to A&R (AFT Local 4200) retirees. Each membership card has a unique ID number that will be your entry to AFT+ member benefits via the members-only web site.

Retirees activated their cards by logging in at www.aft.org/members . Retirees without web access called 888-AFT-JOIN. Card activation is required to access AFT+ member benefits and members-only parts of the site.

Questions about the AFT national membership cards may be addressed to AFT membership deputy director Yvonne Freeman at 1-888-238-5646 or via e-mail at membership@aft.org.

If you are retiring in the near future or are already retired A&R Retirees need your help. Interested in social activities? Come join us. Interested in politics? Come join us. Interested in your benefits? Come join us. Interested in running for Union offices?