Lucky to get
this year’s 1% COLA
New York state retirees will receive a 1 percent
cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) to their state pensions
for 2002-2003. Calculated on an $18,000 base, the
increase would amount to $180 per year or $15 per month.
Inflation was said to be less than 1 percent last year.
However, the COLA law passed in 2000 states annual
increases cannot be less than 1 percent. For these times
when pension fund earnings have decreased, basing the
COLA Law on the Consumer Price Index, instead of fund
earnings, is to our benefit.
Our members in the southwestern corner of this state will
be interested to hear Associated Radiologists of the
Finger Lakes have rejoined the Empire Plan’s
participating-provider group that serves Chemung,
Schuyler and Steuben Counties.
Last October, discussion at the PEF Retirees’ Region
2 chapter meeting in Elmira focused on the
association’s withdrawal from the Empire Plan panel.
Representatives of the association were at the meeting
and complained mainly about the plan’s low
reimbursement rate for their services. The retirees very
strongly expressed their concerns about having to travel
longer distances to receive services from a participating
provider.
Some of you have been concerned about a notice you
received regarding the planned conversion of Empire Blue
Cross and Blue Shield to “for-profit” status.
The state Department of Civil Service has assured me this
conversion will have no effect on our benefits or
premiums under the Empire Plan.
Blue Cross is one of four insurance companies, which
provide benefits under the Empire Plan. Two of the four
Empire Plan carriers, UHC and Cigna, are for-profit
companies, which have won bids against not-for-profit
organizations. I feel confident that if costs increase
unreasonably, changes will be made.
Our Medicare coverage, our state health insurance and our
retirement plan are affected by the actions of our state
and federal leaders. This is an election year for many of
those leaders. So, I ask all retirees to offer their
services to their regional PEF Political Action
Committees. Call your PEF regional office and volunteer
to work in this critical election year.
Attention: PEF Retirees living in Broward County,
Florida. For a local labor contact, try Bill Cea at
1-561-218-1889. He’s with the American Federation of
Teachers retirees’ organization.
Don’t forget to attend the noon chapter meetings at
your regional PEF offices: Albany’s will be held on
September 3, Syracuse’s on September 19 and Long
Island’s on September 25.
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The Communicator
September 2002
The Official Online Edition of
The New York State Public Employees
Federation
Inside This
Issue:
Features
PEF backs Pataki re-election
bid
PEF Board votes to back
candidates in ’02 races
PEF joins fight against
soaring Rx costs
Early retirement windows
opening
Q&A on 25/55, ERI
9/11; One Year Later:
‘Everything is different’ since 9/11
PEF fights for counseling
Victims’ families
grateful for PEF’s help
Contributions of PEF
activists missed
PEF to dedicate memorial
Departments
President's Message:
Endorsements and Loyalty
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
Member Mobilization: 8 steps
to success
Legislative Action:
Retirement, whistleblower laws
Nurses' Station: Help make
new future for nursing
Retirees In Action: Lucky to
get 1% COLA
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Union Matters
2002 Convention Preview
PEF researcher’s
discovery offers hope
Members show interest in
PS&T negotiations
Division 236 at Parole fully
mobilized
Members at Labor Dept. win
back rights
PEF fights big chemo bills
PEF vets keep wagering safe
bet
PEF wins OT pay
Highlights of PEF Exec
Board’s meeting
Member’s kids wins
scholarships
Support true charities, job
security
GET OUT THE VOTE!
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