2012 Election Results

Verification of Coverage reminder

The 2012 Verification of Coverage (VOC) forms were mailed to contract holders in late May.  If you have not already completed and returned your form, you must do so by July 31, 2012. 

If you have not received your Verification of Coverage form, please call 1-888-231-0382.  Forms must be received by July 31st to ensure that your health and prescription drug coverage are uninterrupted.

From the Detroit Free Press

LANSING May 4 – Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Rick Snyder are backing off some of the changes they proposed to the teacher retirement system, Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville announced today.

In a news release, Richardville said he and Snyder and House Speaker Jase Bolger have agreed to make changes to Senate Bill 1040, which aims to address a $45 billion unfunded liability in the Michigan Public Schools Employees Retirement System.

As proposed, the bill would have imposed a graded retiree health care premium subsidy on all current school employees hired before July 1. Instead of earning 90% health care coverage at age 60 after working 10 years, teachers would only get 30% coverage after 10 years. They would then earn additional coverage for additional years worked, to a maximum of 80% coverage. The bill would have also required most current employees to reach age 60 before they could receive retiree health care benefits.

“In the interest of fairness and in response to inquiries from public school employees who have expressed concerns about making plans for their retirement, we have decided to remove the 60-year age provision under this legislation and to eliminate retroactively imposing graded health care premiums,” Richardville, R-Monroe, said in the release.

The bill sparked outrage from teacher groups. Part of the criticism related to the fact most lawmakers would get more generous retiree health care benefits than teachers would under the bill, even after legislation in October that reduced those benefits for lawmakers.

The bill, which was introduced in March by Sen. Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw, and is now in the Senate Appropriations Committee, will still require retirees to pay at least 20% of their health care premiums.

Robert McCann, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, said the promised changes show the value of public opposition to plans put forward by Republicans who control both chambers of the Legislature and the governor’s office.

“Under pressure, they put the brakes on it,” McCann said. “Their plans to get this passed as quickly as possible kind of got thwarted, thanks to people speaking out in opposition.”

Snyder said in the news release that the current system is “simply unsustainable” and “we have to act and act soon.” He said he and lawmakers will work on a plan “that is fair and affordable to both our valued teachers and other school employees as well as taxpayers.”

John Olekszyk, president of the Coalition for Secure Retirement representing teachers, said he is “very pleased that the Legislature and governor are responding to some of our concerns.”

He said lawmakers need to address the “root cause” of the pension underfunding issue.

“After raising taxes on retirees last year, the last thing school retirees can afford is a major increase in their retirement health care costs,” he said.

Bolger, R-Marshall, said the changes “highlight the importance of the robust committee process we have established

What is MEA-Retired?

MEA-Retired stands for Michigan Education Association-Retired. It is an MEA affiliate made up of current and retired public school employees. Although MEA-Retired is a part of MEA, it is not necessary to be an MEA member in order to join after retirement. Any person who receives a pension check from the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS), was on MEA staff, or has worked for a public school system in another state, is eligible for MEA-Retired membership. Currently working MEA members (including ESP and higher education) and MEA staff are eligible to join MEA-Retired and become active MEA-Retired members upon retirement.

MEA-Retired is also an affiliate of the National Education Association-Retired (NEA-Retired). Lifetime membership in MEA-Retired is also lifetime membership in NEA-Retired. Lifetime membership in MEA-Retired/NEA-Retired is a one-time charge of $400.

MEA-Retired has local chapters throughout the state and a chapter in Florida. Local dues vary from $5 to $10 per year. Our goal is to have a chapter connected to each coordinating council in Michigan.

MEA-Retired elects its own officers and board of directors and manages its own budget. It has liaisons to the MEA Board of Directors, MEA Commissions and Committees, the MPSERS Board, the Michigan Senior Coalition, and the Senior Advocates Consumer Coalition.

What MEA-Retired does for you

MEA-Retired, of course!

Frequently asked questions about MEA-Retired/NEA-Retired

What MEA-Retired is doing

All Inclusive Member (AIM)

Leadership:

MEA-Retired Board Members

MEA-Retired Chapters (PDF)

MEA-Retired Local Presidents (PDF)

MEA-Retired Membership Form 

Web Resources