Mass Retirees Association
Mass Retirees Association
  • Видео 248
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Mass Retirees Legislative Endorsements
Mass Retirees just announced our bipartisan list of endorsed legislative candidates facing contested competitive elections on November 5th. Each of the Democrat, Republican, and unenrolled candidates receiving our endorsement have a strong record of supporting public retirees here in Massachusetts. Having a record of supporting public retirees and prioritizing the issues of direct importance to our members is our only criteria. Party affiliation and positions on unrelated issues are not taken into consideration. Similarly, our Association has not taken a position on any of the 5 referendum questions appearing on the November ballot because none have a direct impact on public retirees. We ...
Просмотров: 551

Видео

Medicare premiums are rising
Просмотров 1,2 тыс.День назад
Coming on the heels of the 2nd Annual Municipal Health Insurance Summit is word that Medicare Advantage and Supplement premiums are facing a sharp increase in 2025 - a double-digit increase in monthly costs for many municipal plans. Driving the premium increase is a toxic mix of factors: Medical inflation, prescription drug costs, coverage of expensive new medications, federal changes in Medica...
Protecting Retiree Health Insurance
Просмотров 55014 дней назад
Continued access to high quality affordable health insurance is a major concern of public retirees, which is why a large portion of our day-to-day work is focused on retiree healthcare at the local, state, and federal levels of government. As our concern over rising healthcare costs increases, so does the importance of this ongoing work. One example is the support we provide to local retirees s...
Medical cannabis: A way to use responsibly & save
Просмотров 45621 день назад
More and more older adults have been turning to cannabis to manage the symptoms of arthritis pain, other forms of chronic pain, to reduce stress and to improve sleep. A new AARP-backed study suggests cannabis use among older adults has more than doubled in the last 3 years. With cannabis use rising, we believe it’s important to help our members consider and/or experience cannabis as responsibly...
Whole person health in practice
Просмотров 611Месяц назад
A growing trend in healthcare is the focus on “whole person health”. Mass Retirees members have undoubtedly heard both BCBS and Wellpoint use the term, as well as read about it in our newsletter. But what does it mean in practice? One example is an initiative called place-based supports (PBS), which is being implemented in senior housing sites here in Massachusetts with the support of Molina He...
Time to Act on WEP/GPO
Просмотров 2,2 тыс.Месяц назад
The return of Congress to formal sessions this week was met with a major national effort to force a floor vote in the US House of Representatives on legislation fully repealing both the Social Security WEP and GPO laws. We believe the time for Congress to end WEP/GPO is now! We are calling on Mass Retirees members to contact your local member of Congress and ask that they please sign on to H.Re...
Fall 2024 Outlook
Просмотров 538Месяц назад
As we head into fall, Mass Retirees is directly involved in and focused on several important areas of direct importance to public retirees. To start, our Association holds seats on two retirement commissions about to get underway: Special COLA Commission and the Post Retirement Work Task Force. We are also participating in the October Municipal Health Insurance Summit hosted BCBS of MA. And spe...
Primary Election endorsements
Просмотров 382Месяц назад
The long-term success of Mass Retirees starts with having a robust membership - a strong membership that turns out and votes. With the Massachusetts state Primary Election taking place on Tuesday, September 3rd, we want to remind all public retirees to please VOTE. If you have not participated in vote by mail or early voting, please make a point of getting to the polls and ensuring that your vo...
WEP/GPO Status Update
Просмотров 2,6 тыс.Месяц назад
It has been a couple of months since our last report on the ongoing efforts to end the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) laws. While there is not a lot of real progress to report, we know that our members are anxious for an update. During the current Congressional session, most of the focus surrounding WEP/GPO has been on the two bills that...
Meet EO: Responsible Medical Cannabis Products & Free Guidance
Просмотров 4572 месяца назад
Last Spring, a survey of Mass Retirees members indicated strong interest in medical cannabis as a treatment option. The survey also demonstrated that those members currently using or considering using medical cannabis lack clinician-led guidance. These results mirror recent studies published by the American Medical Association. The studies confirm that patients are using cannabis to manage chro...
New laws impacting public retirees
Просмотров 8782 месяца назад
Beyond the creation of the Special COLA Commission and the increased state Basic Life Insurance benefit several smaller, but important public retirement related laws were passed at the end of the formal legislative session in July. Just yesterday, Governor Healey signed the omnibus veterans bill into law containing a needed reform of the Veterans’ Buy-Back for active public employees. The FY25 ...
COLA: What you need to know
Просмотров 6752 месяца назад
With the creation of the Special COLA Commission approved by Governor Maura Healey within the FY25 budget, it is a good time for us to review the history of the current public retirement COLA law and explain what we hope to accomplish through the work of the Special Commission. Since our founding in 1968, the COLA has always been a “bread & butter” issue for Mass Retirees. Added to the state’s ...
Municipal Retirees & State Budget
Просмотров 7542 месяца назад
The FY25 State Budget that is now before Governor Maura Healey contains provisions that will have a positive impact on all retired public employees - retired state, county and municipal employees. In addition to developing a new approach to improving the State and Teacher Retiree COLA base, the Special COLA Commission is also tasked with the creation of a new enhanced or “senior” COLA for ALL l...
Major wins for retirees in final state budget
Просмотров 1 тыс.3 месяца назад
We have major breaking news to report this week. The FY25 State Budget contains several key provisions positively impacting public retirees. These include the creation of a Special Commission on the State/Teacher COLA; an increase in the State’s Basic Life Insurance benefit to $10,000; creation of a Task Force on Post Retirement Public Sector work; and a change in the return-to-work provisions ...
A Baseless Assault on Your Pension
Просмотров 9383 месяца назад
The July 9th Boston Herald editorial “Taxpayer-funded public pensions have got to go” is not only baseless in its claims but serves as a reminder that public retirement benefits are continually under attack. As Mass Retirees President Frank Valeri has stated in his written response to the Herald’s highly misleading assault on the City of Boston Retirement System, Boston’s pension fund is set to...
FY25 COLA News Update
Просмотров 9744 месяца назад
FY25 COLA News Update
State Budget & WEP/GPO News
Просмотров 2,2 тыс.4 месяца назад
State Budget & WEP/GPO News
US Senate holding WEP/GPO hearing today
Просмотров 1,6 тыс.4 месяца назад
US Senate holding WEP/GPO hearing today
Concerns regarding local health insurance
Просмотров 6474 месяца назад
Concerns regarding local health insurance
Monitoring state and local retirement activity
Просмотров 7454 месяца назад
Monitoring state and local retirement activity
Hospital reform passed by House
Просмотров 6005 месяцев назад
Hospital reform passed by House
Social Security & Medicare Solvency
Просмотров 9445 месяцев назад
Social Security & Medicare Solvency
WEP/GPO Testimony submitted to Congress
Просмотров 1,5 тыс.5 месяцев назад
WEP/GPO Testimony submitted to Congress
House approves retiree life insurance increase
Просмотров 8665 месяцев назад
House approves retiree life insurance increase
Budget update & WEP/GPO hearing rundown
Просмотров 2,8 тыс.6 месяцев назад
Budget update & WEP/GPO hearing rundown
Special Alert: WEP/GPO hearing scheduled
Просмотров 1,7 тыс.6 месяцев назад
Special Alert: WEP/GPO hearing scheduled
Seeking your thoughts on medical marijuana
Просмотров 6876 месяцев назад
Seeking your thoughts on medical marijuana
Important reminders for you, plus inside the May newsletter
Просмотров 5956 месяцев назад
Important reminders for you, plus inside the May newsletter
We have lots of news to report
Просмотров 8546 месяцев назад
We have lots of news to report
Survey confirms healthcare affordability concerns
Просмотров 6117 месяцев назад
Survey confirms healthcare affordability concerns

Комментарии

  • @DeborahF-w4v
    @DeborahF-w4v 2 дня назад

    Thanks for all the work the Association does on our behalf. 🙂

  • @shondahogan1487
    @shondahogan1487 6 дней назад

    Thank you for this information l live in Texas .

  • @KindCountsDeb3773
    @KindCountsDeb3773 7 дней назад

    REMEMBER the GOP is Not our retirees side. Red Maga wants to cut SS. The GOP has given and is say ing thedy will still give BILLIONAIR companies tax breaks and help. And Forgetting and hurting regular citizens. WE cannot allow it and Not vote for those scalpers. We deserve help, not billionaires/Oligarchy. Vote with that in mind.

  • @KindCountsDeb3773
    @KindCountsDeb3773 7 дней назад

    Help us with HOW to respond to th is, PUSH for presenting it to the floor for a vote. Please.

  • @johnh6515
    @johnh6515 10 дней назад

    Very easy to listen to you explain the weekly news, THANKS TO YOU, AND YOUR STAFF !

  • @MargarettaScully
    @MargarettaScully 10 дней назад

    thank you for this information. Hope to get to Auburn December.

  • @moccasinlanding
    @moccasinlanding 13 дней назад

    Thank you, Shawn. Mass Retirees is definitely proactive in the proper medical use of something which has long had a problematic reputation. I have been interested in this subject, but find little information about it for my health purpose.

  • @chriscoco547
    @chriscoco547 14 дней назад

    My opinion, if I pay into the SS system, I should get what I have paid for. It seems to me that the money I have put into the system is being given to those who have not paid into the system. Those who have paid in should be given priority over those who have not.

    • @shawnduhamel
      @shawnduhamel 13 дней назад

      To be clear, unless the person is receiving spousal Social Security benefits (after being married 10+ years) the only way to qualify for Social Security retirement is to have paid into SS for a minimum of 40 quarters (10 years). If you don't earn the minimum quarters, you do not qualify - period.

  • @RetrieverTrainingAlone
    @RetrieverTrainingAlone 15 дней назад

    My Social Security statement listed a monthly income of $800 at age 62, because of the Windfall Elimination Provision, my actual Social Security income was reduced to $250.

  • @eugeneahearn8299
    @eugeneahearn8299 17 дней назад

    Let us pray that WEP and GPO are NEVER repealed. God save America and the American taxpayer. Please Lord smite those that know nothing of WEP and GPO, but only think of their own pocketbook, even after signing an agreement that they understood WEP and GPO before they started working day 1.

  • @josephcalp1604
    @josephcalp1604 22 дня назад

    If you really cared about retirees, you would ask for all SSA benefits to computed with the welfare calculation of 90% of wages and repeal the dual entitlement provisions so everyone would get a unreduced or non offset spouse benefit. Now non covered wage earners will get extra benefits.

  • @DannyBadyna-kt5uc
    @DannyBadyna-kt5uc 24 дня назад

    I will be as dead as Reagan before this Thing ever gets passed.

    • @massretireesassociation3689
      @massretireesassociation3689 24 дня назад

      While everyone involved is righty frustrated and angry that these issues continue to drag on, we're doing everything possible to bring relief to retirees impacted by WEP/GPO. If these were ease or uncomplicated issues to resolve they would have been resolved many years ago. The one thing we will not not ever do is give up the fight.

  • @Mary1393
    @Mary1393 25 дней назад

    I am a retiree that uses for sleep and anxiety. I use in Florida where I live and pay a substantial amt of Money seeking required doctor, and paying for a license from the state. You must learn about it before you take. I did my own research and there is plenty on info regarding. I only like gummies, and for sleep primarily. Doctors do not know anything about it, some might,but rare. Hope we get recreational use in Florida coming election.

  • @patiyer4134
    @patiyer4134 25 дней назад

    This is very proactive of Mass retirees. I don’t use, but I know many people do.

  • @majorlagg9321
    @majorlagg9321 25 дней назад

    They weren't worried about the cost to my family when they took money from us. I was told it will go to my retirement. Imagine the shock when I learned they lied to me and I got back scraps from them.

  • @judetoke4122
    @judetoke4122 Месяц назад

    praying for this in Ohio, just too many widows living in poverty due to this unfair law. very painful when you hear all the illegals are getting and here we sit...........just been awful.

  • @Mary1393
    @Mary1393 Месяц назад

    They have been spending our money long enough, but of course, they will want to continue spending our money. I don’t expect any help on this from these thief’s.

  • @richardrivard8345
    @richardrivard8345 Месяц назад

    Nothing Ever Gets Done in Washington During an Election Year ! Politicians Dont Want to Rock the Boat ! Their Only Interested in Getting Re-Elected !!! ☹️😡☹️

  • @Omvajrasattvahung
    @Omvajrasattvahung Месяц назад

    I'm a Mass retiree living in Florida, affected by WEP. Thank you for the information and all that you do. I will contact my state rep today. Best.

  • @DianaMartinez-gp7vu
    @DianaMartinez-gp7vu Месяц назад

    Thanks for all your work

  • @DianaMartinez-gp7vu
    @DianaMartinez-gp7vu Месяц назад

    Very good news hopefully this bill will repeal soon .

  • @angelastancatolebow7392
    @angelastancatolebow7392 Месяц назад

    Thank you for all you do for us😊

  • @ruthvasquez4116
    @ruthvasquez4116 Месяц назад

    Thank you!,

  • @ReviveOne
    @ReviveOne Месяц назад

    Seth Moulton has signed discharge petition September 11, 2024.

  • @helen6017
    @helen6017 Месяц назад

    Thank you so much for all your hard work!!🙏🙏🙏

  • @ReviveOne
    @ReviveOne Месяц назад

    www.house.gov/representatives?fbclid=IwY2xjawFQiR9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHaIt8CMcztFtzTm_ckwuY5wGMAj7HAnZ-dT3U5KwjumiGQnzAtja9mT2PA_aem_9OzNVIRjtI7tSv72G22i_A

  • @ReviveOne
    @ReviveOne Месяц назад

    clerk.house.gov/DischargePetition/2024091016?Page=2&CongressNum=118

  • @jimbrauer1711
    @jimbrauer1711 Месяц назад

    Thanks for WEP & GPO info!

  • @augustinemadrid4545
    @augustinemadrid4545 Месяц назад

    Doing a great job to help us all.

  • @margaretcook4833
    @margaretcook4833 Месяц назад

    thank you for all you do❤

  • @johnh6515
    @johnh6515 Месяц назад

    As always, wishing you and your staff a safe weekend .

  • @cherylharris7003
    @cherylharris7003 Месяц назад

    We paid Into the system so we should be able to get it out. No one asked me a question when I had to pay into it like everyone else so why is there an question now regarding how to pay for it when it's my turn to get paid after paying into it for 27 years.

  • @JeanneDesmond
    @JeanneDesmond Месяц назад

    Thank you for your efforts. Social Security needs to be revamped anyway, and that needs to be a separate issue from the Repeals of GPO and WEP. These are punitive issues to a select group of people, and that needs to change.

    • @KindCountsDeb3773
      @KindCountsDeb3773 7 дней назад

      SURELY there can be a different way to help SS be solvent and have more funding. We CAN do it. Find a way to fund SS, quit supplying the Oligarchy with money they don't deserve or need. come on this is America !

  • @pamgardner721
    @pamgardner721 Месяц назад

    They should make other tweaks to social security like stop giving spouses who are not Americans. Social security. I know people jtv are married to Canadians and the Canadians are collecting our social security and they don't even live in the United States. This is not fair. Stop giving the money to illegal aliens. This definitely is not fair but seeming that I know a lot of American that are married to Canadians. I'm well aware of the social security given to them. Why?

    • @KindCountsDeb3773
      @KindCountsDeb3773 7 дней назад

      GPO is less of a need. Singles don't get this additional benefit. IMO

  • @johnh6515
    @johnh6515 Месяц назад

    Thank you! For you and your crew’s efforts !

  • @margaretcook4833
    @margaretcook4833 Месяц назад

    Grateful for on going information. Thank you

  • @BradleyStephens-b6d
    @BradleyStephens-b6d Месяц назад

    Regarding the WEP. Why not let people who are vested in SS buy additional years in the system to get to 30 years of substantial earnings. It would cost about $3800 per year to cover employee and employer contribution for a year of substantial earnings. This should relieve the financial burden on the system but allow people to get a full benefit.

    • @massretireesassociation3689
      @massretireesassociation3689 Месяц назад

      What you are suggesting would require a major change in Social Security policy and federal law. Social Security is not a pension plan. Some would argue that this would be a form of gaming the system. Short of a major reform of Social Security as a whole (which must happen in the near future), the likelihood of any type of wholesale change in policy is unlikely. As we say in this week's update, Social Security is a national program that impacts the whole country. Changes to it are always going to be looked at in the context of the big picture, which is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to change WEP/GPO.

  • @alleycatpat
    @alleycatpat 2 месяца назад

    How about they use the $8billion they’re saving Medicare with their negotiating the cap on 10 drugs saving patients also.

  • @maryrusso9055
    @maryrusso9055 2 месяца назад

    you did not comment much on the increase of life insurance increase from $5000.00 to $10,000.00 if teacher an have retired $5000.00 does it go up to $10,000.00?Watertown, MA. ?? Nobody knows greatly appreciated everyone is confused including ones implementing.Please add answers to questions NOT CLEAR FOR EHOM QUALIFIES???

    • @shawnduhamel
      @shawnduhamel 2 месяца назад

      Mary, I'm not sure if you are a member of Mass Retirees, but we have been reporting extensively on the Basic Life Insurance increase fore the past few months. The increase approved by the legislature and Governor Healey only applies to retired and active state employees. Life insurance benefits for municipal retirees, including teachers, are set by local communities and school districts. There is no limit on how high local benefits can be set, but it is entirely the purview of local communities. However, we believe this action to increase state benefits will lead to improved life insurance benefits for teachers and other municipal retirees.

  • @BradleyStephens-b6d
    @BradleyStephens-b6d 2 месяца назад

    Let people who are vested in SS buy additional years to eliminate WEP. With a year of substantial earnings currently $31275 you could let people buy years for 12.4% of that. Just over $3800 per year to purchase.

  • @carolwhelan4653
    @carolwhelan4653 2 месяца назад

    Thanks Shawn and thanks to Cheryl Stillman who helped me enormously with a health insurance problem. I had been trying to straighten out an over charge on my deductible for 3 months. Cheryl managed to get it done in a day. Great help to me. ( I emailed on the Mass Retirees website and she got right back to me.)

  • @PatriciaOwens-b4h
    @PatriciaOwens-b4h 2 месяца назад

    Thank you Shawn

  • @johnh6515
    @johnh6515 2 месяца назад

    Great information, thanks for your continued leadership for Mass Retirement community! You all are appreciated.

  • @joycebelisle7754
    @joycebelisle7754 2 месяца назад

    Thank you for all you do it is appreciated

  • @carolwhelan4653
    @carolwhelan4653 2 месяца назад

    Thank you for doing all that research on our behalf. It was very informative.

  • @johnh6515
    @johnh6515 2 месяца назад

    Thanking you folks, for all you do ! Your work is appreciated

  • @carolwhelan4653
    @carolwhelan4653 2 месяца назад

    If the governor signs the bill will the " senior" increase take a year to go into effect? I thought I heard that in one of your videos. Or am I thinking of the life insurance?

    • @shawnduhamel
      @shawnduhamel 2 месяца назад

      The increase in the Basic Life Insurance benefit takes effect on 7/1/2025. The "senior" COLA, like the State & Teacher COLA base, is part of the focus of the COLA Commission that is created by a section of the budget. The Commission will develop recommendations on improving and paying for new benefits. The reporting date of the COLA Commission is 2/1/2025, after which time the legislature will consider implementing the recommendations.

  • @sherrieathome847
    @sherrieathome847 3 месяца назад

    Putting inflation in perspective, We just had several quotes on a new shower to help with disability. It was $50,000. Not even a shower door which would be another $4000. Needless to say, we cannot afford it. We need to understand that any inflation is devastating. This is no reflection on your post. We appreciate all that is being done on our behalf but I was floored to hear that cost on a shower update. Sometimes we say inflation is only when we must understand any inflation is too much for retirees and the average person. Thank you Shawn for fighting for us and we do appreciate you hard work and undertaking in bringing these issues to the table with politicians.

  • @carolwhelan4653
    @carolwhelan4653 3 месяца назад

    YAY for task forces and committees. How many years will that take? Will older seniors actually be around? Sorry, but the state finds money when it wants it for migrants or other things, we come last. I guess promises are good politics. There are elections coming up, I guess.

    • @shawnduhamel
      @shawnduhamel 3 месяца назад

      Did you read my email report prior to commenting or at least listen to the video? Your questions are addressed in detail. We also report on the nearly $7 billion in state taxpayer money appropriated to fund the State/Teacher Retirement Systems and the GIC in FY25. That's nearly 14% of the overall budget, making it very hard to argue that not enough is being done to help retirees. Can benefits be improved, yes without a doubt. That is why we asked for the creation of the social COLA commission, which is charged with reporting back with recommendations by February 1. This has ZERO to do with the election calendar and everything to do with creating a sound and sustainable COLA policy for retirees.

    • @carolwhelan4653
      @carolwhelan4653 3 месяца назад

      @@shawnduhamel Shawn, they could have at least ok'd something more for those who have been retired for 15-20 years. We have been talking about that now for quite a long time. People are in their 80s and are dying off. I guess if stalled long enough it won't matter to a lot of us. I mean how many would that involve?

  • @gitismall
    @gitismall 3 месяца назад

    Thank you for the info and all you do.