Chair Talk

November 2005

On October 26, 2005 Alvin Whitfield and I attended a farewell “Open House” for David Fink (Director of the Office of the State Employer). Mr. Fink has resigned his position as the Director of OSE effective October 28, 2005 to return to private practice. On October 31, 2005 Governor Granholm appointed Tom Hall as Acting Director of OSE. Tom Hall will be Acting Director until a permanent Director is appointed. Mr. Hall has been an employee of OSE for 25 years. I am sure that we will be able to address Retiree concerns/issues with Mr. Hall.

“Notice of Creditable Coverage”

State Retirees who currently are on Medicare will be receiving a letter from Employee Benefits in November, 2005. This letter is used to inform Medicare State Retirees that the current State Prescription Plan (Express Scripts) is as good as, or better than, the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan. State Retirees on Medicare DO NOT need to sign up for Medicare Part D. It is important that you keep this notice with other important documents. This notice is required by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). In the event that in the future the State decides to have Medicare retirees join a Medicare Part D Prescription Provider, this “Notice of Creditable Coverage” will keep you from paying a higher premium amount at that time.

I can’t stress enough that State Retirees on Medicare SHOULD NOT enroll in a Medicare Part D Plan. I realize that we have been receiving advertisements (mail, magazines, television etc.) about the new Medicare prescription drug plans. In the event that you do sign up for one of the Medicare Plans you may lose your current benefits with the State’s Prescription Plan.

I have no reason to believe that the State will now, or in the future, eliminate prescription drug benefits for State Retirees on Medicare.

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

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