Chair Talk

November 2014

Currently prescription drug co-pays do not apply to the out-of-pocket max, however this rule will change in October 2015. I have been telling retirees that drug co-pays will be counted in the out-of-pocket max in January 2015. I was giving out the wrong date and I apologize for the misinformation.

SOCIAL SECURITY/MEDICARE

Monthly Social Security income will increase 1.7 percent in 2015. The 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that more than 58 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2015.

The Part B premium (most people pay $104.90 each month) won’t change in 2015.

OKRIE vs MICHIGAN

Latest Update - October 16, 2014

If you will recall, I filed an Application for Leave to Appeal with the Michigan Supreme Court in Lansing, Michigan on September 19, 2014 requesting that the Supreme Court reverse the Court of Appeals’ decision on August 19, 2014 denying the Petition challenging the constitutionality of 2013 PA 164 (“the Act”), which transferred the Court of Claims to the Court of Appeals. (For those interested, the Leave Application is posted below.) Thereafter, on September 23, 2014, the Michigan Supreme Court requested the court files from both the Court of Claims and the Court of Appeals in the Okrie matter, which effectively puts a hold on further proceedings in the Court of Claims on the Class Action Pension Lawsuit until the Supreme Court resolves the Leave Application on the Petition challenging the constitutionality of the Act.  Today, I received the State’s Response in Opposition to the Leave Application, which was filed on October 14, 2014.  At this point, the matter is in the hands of the Michigan Supreme Court for a decision on whether to grant or deny the Leave Application.  I will let everyone know the Supreme Court’s decision as soon as I find out.  In the meantime, I sincerely appreciate any financial support that you may provide me so that I can continue with these lawsuits, whatever the outcome in the Supreme Court on the Leave Application.  My thanks in advance.

Gary P. Supanich

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.