MI-SERA

Chair Talk

June 2015

By Bob Kopasz

The SERA/GBS agreement was signed on May 8th and has an effective date of May 15, 2015. On that same day, the agreement between GBS and the Hantz Group was also signed. We are moving ahead with the Hantz Group with the goal in mind of recruiting and retaining new retirees as SERA members. I know that most Chapters have provided Hantz with their Chapter membership lists and those members will be contacted by Hantz to get more involved in the SERA-PLUS benefits program. The Hantz group is hosting Identity theft seminars around the State — I hope that the Chapters will promote these seminars to their members. We have asked for Hantz to provide us information about several issues that have been taken up by the legislature (road funding, auto insurance reform etc.). The Hantz Group seems to be willing to help us in our efforts to get timely information out to our members. I believe that the Hantz Group will prove to be a better fit for the SERA-PLUS program. Hantz representatives will be attending all SERA Chapter meetings to provide information and answer questions from our members.

Blue Care Network recently mailed an advertisement to state retirees that caused some questions about the mailing. Some of the calls I had received thought that this was a change to the State Health Plan. The key word is advertisement — The BCN Advantage plan is an option that is offered to state employees/retirees. You do not have to take that option. Employee Benefits wants you to be aware of the health care plans/HMO’s that are available to you. Any information that we get from BCN about the Advantage plan will be passed on to the Chapter Presidents and posted on the SERA website.

We recently had some problems with the SERA website involving primary account contacts, domain name servers etc. I am pleased to say that we have resolved all those issues and the website is up and running. I apologize for any inconvenience this issue may have caused.

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.


Chair Talk	Home About SERA Join SERA Now SERA Plus Benefits Meeting Dates Chair Talk Capitol News Retirement Matters Insurance Information SERA Council Directories Michigan Government Links Testimony Letters and Press Releases Resources Links
June 2015 By Bob Kopasz The SERA/GBS agreement was signed on May 8th and has an effective date of May 15, 2015. On that same day, the agreement between GBS and the Hantz Group was also signed. We are moving ahead with the Hantz Group with the goal in mind of recruiting and retaining new retirees as SERA members. I know that most Chapters have provided Hantz with their Chapter membership lists and those members will be contacted by Hantz to get more involved in the SERA-PLUS benefits program. The Hantz group is hosting Identity theft seminars around the State — I hope that the Chapters will promote these seminars to their members. We have asked for Hantz to provide us information about several issues that have been taken up by the legislature (road funding, auto insurance reform etc.). The Hantz Group seems to be willing to help us in our efforts to get timely information out to our members. I believe that the Hantz Group will prove to be a better fit for the SERA-PLUS program. Hantz representatives will be attending all SERA Chapter meetings to provide information and answer questions from our members. Blue Care Network recently mailed an advertisement to state retirees that caused some questions about the mailing. Some of the calls I had received thought that this was a change to the State Health Plan. The key word is advertisement — The BCN Advantage plan is an option that is offered to state employees/retirees. You do not have to take that option. Employee Benefits wants you to be aware of the health care plans/HMO’s that are available to you. Any information that we get from BCN about the Advantage plan will be passed on to the Chapter Presidents and posted on the SERA website. We recently had some problems with the SERA website involving primary account contacts, domain name servers etc. I am pleased to say that we have resolved all those issues and the website is up and running. I apologize for any inconvenience this issue may have caused. 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.
©2021 Michigan State Employee Retirees Association Council (MI-SERA) Contact SERA Webmaster