Retirees Homepage

Health benefits still endangered

We previously alerted you to the state’s attempt to reduce its retirees’ health care benefits. Now, we are concerned about a recent decision by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) that could encourage employers to stop health care coverage for those who are eligible for Medicare.

According to the PEF Contract Administration Department, it’s too soon to know if the EEOC’s action will ultimately encourage expansion or contraction of employer-sponsored retiree coverage generally, but the publicity the EEOC’s action has generated could lead to reduced benefits for Medicare-eligible state retirees.” 

We also support state Comptroller Alan Hevesi’s battle with the governor over pension funding. (See related article, page 6.) By now, you should have received the comptroller’s letter about this and, hopefully, you have contacted the governor and your legislators. 

One of those guarantees of life is that things never stand still at PEF. Matt Shebar, director of retiree programs, has taken a leave of absence and his position is filled temporarily by Hiram Eberlein, an active member of the PEF Retirees Albany chapter.

PEF Retirees chapter meetings for June include:
Albany — 11 a.m., June 7 at the NYS United Teachers headquarters in the Albert Shanker Conference Center, 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham. A June 14 picnic is also planned for 1 p.m. at Cook’s Park in Colonie;

Syracuse — Noon, June 14, annual picnic at Lakeland Park, Alhan Parkway; and

New York — 1 p.m., June 16, at the PEF office, 136 Church St., 4th Floor, in Manhattan.