Huge
health hikes threaten
State lawmakers are fighting to protect New York’s
retirees from the governor’s budget proposal that
could cost us up to $3,000 more out of our pensions for
health insurance and force us to pay more for
prescription drugs, doctor co-pays, and deductibles.
That proposal would have a 20-year retiree paying $3,000
a year for family health insurance, a 77 percent hike
over current premiums. Even if that retiree were only
paying for individual coverage, the annual premium would
go up by 225 percent to $1,320.
Unable to come to an agreement with the governor on the
state budget, the legislators passed their own budget
bills in late April, which restored $27.3 million to
fully fund the employee health insurance program and
eliminate the need for employees and retirees to pay
drastically higher premiums.
As this issue of The Communicator goes to press in
mid-May, the governor is expected to veto many of the
Legislature’s budget items. It would then be up to
the lawmakers to try to override those vetoes. If it
happens, it will be the first time in decades.
By the time you read this, it’s likely this issue
will be resolved. If our representatives in the state
Assembly and Senate manage to hold the line and pass this
veto override, we owe them a tremendous debt of thanks.
The average annual state pension is $12,000 annually
— just $120 above the federal poverty line. For some
retirees the increased costs for health insurance
proposed by the governor’s office could eat up
nearly one-third of their pensions.
Check this column in your July-August issue of The
Communicator to find out how this very important budget
battle plays out.
For more information or a PEF Retirees enrollment form,
go to www.pef.org and click on Retirees, or e-mail ahughes@pef.org or call 1-800-342-4306, ext. 289.
Retirees In Action E-mail; ahughes@pef.org For general comments or questions
only.
 Click Here to go to Retirees
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COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
Inside This Issue:
Features
PEF pushes to plug corporate
tax loopholes
Members fight proposal to
merge NYSPI
PEF leads demonstration to
protect patients, RNs
Annual lobbying pays off for
PEF nurses
Union gets preliminary
injunction
Departments
President's Message: PEF is
major player
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
Member Mobilization:
Training with rallies
Nurses' Station: PEF acts to
protect nurses
Legislative Update: PEF gets
record restorations
Health Benefits: Empire Plan
Update
Legal Issues: Members win
grievance at DOL
PS&T Contract Update:
Talks continuing
Member Highlights
Retirees In Action: Huge
health hikes threaten
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Union Matters
PEF RNs deliver quality care
at Elmira PC
Full mobilization creates
union power in Reg. 5
PEF wins Article 78
Members bring Benson team
back for 3rd term
PEF Election Guide: Download
Supplement
Other Links
Professional Directory
Members' Classified
Member Communicator Feedback
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