May 27^th was an extraordinary and jubilant day for Ray Johnson and hundreds of other retired Connecticut teachers who are over age 65 and whose health care expenses are not covered by Medicare. That was the day on which Governor Rell signed Public Act 08-112, An Act Increasing the Health Insurance Subsidy To Retired Teachers and Concerning Credited Service for Teachers' Retirement. 

The changes in this Act were the result of House Bill 5841, offered by CEA during the last session of the General Assembly.  The original bill sought to increase the health care subsidy of all Connecticut’s retired teachers still purchasing health insurance through their local boards of education and also included a health care COLA. This would have been funded by modifying the “mandatory contributions” of active teachers. With the current economic climate, however, that proposal was modified to include only a subsidy of $220 per month on behalf of the member, spouse or the surviving spouse of such member who: (1) has attained the normal retirement age to participate in Medicare, (2) is not eligible for Part A of Medicare without cost, and (3)contributes at least $220 per month towards his or her medical and prescription drug plan provided by the board of education.

During the legislative session, members of CEA-Retired had testified before the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee led by CEA-Retired President Jon-Paul Roden. Ray Johnson, a retired East Hartford teacher, testified directly to the plight of retired teachers who will never meet the requirements of Medicare and the increasing cost of their health care plans. Also speaking that day in behalf of CEA-Retired in addition to Roden and Johnson were Dianne Ethier and Emily Eukna. These representatives were accompanied by CEA President Phil Apruzzese and Vice-President Sheila Cohen and CEA’s Director of Government Relations, Mark Waxenberg and Government Relations Specialist Vinnie Loffredo.

You can read the whole Act at www.cga.ct.gov/2008/ACT/PA/2008PA-00112-R00HB-05841-PA.htm

Any Annual Dues members may send in his/her Annual Dues for 2008 – 2009 ($43.00) to CEA Membership (address it to Cheryl Hampson, Connecticut Education Association, 21 Oak Street, Suite 500, Hartford, CT 06106) as of now. By doing so, those members’ memberships will be absolutely continuous and there will be no interruptions in any mailings nor will they become ineligible for NEA and CEA Member Benefits such as the insurance programs or credit cards. Annual members who choose to take this action will be in “good standing” for the 2008 – 2009 membership year.