|
|
Our Mission Statement The Association is constituted to promote the welfare of public employees who have retired from service with the State of Illinois in all ways compatible with the public interest and to support and promote improvements in the public employee’s retirement systems of Illinois.
Retirement is when you spend less time worrying and more time enjoying
the “golden years”. ISEA Retirees can help eliminate your
worries by letting you discuss them with a live person rather than a
machine each weekday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. We can help eliminate
tax and retirement issues, insurance problems, long-term care questions
and rates, home safety with security systems and even help you get fresh
hearing aid batteries at blue light special prices. Our staff pledges
to help make your retirement truly a pleasant one. This spring has been a busy place at the Capitol. A number of bills were introduced, some effecting active state employees and one in particular effecting retirees. The bill I refer to is SB 175, a bill sponsored by Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg, which would allow the state to deduct health insurance premiums from their pension checks. In sponsoring the bill, Sen. Schoenberg used a report completed by a consulting firm Mercer which gave data on such charges by other states as well as private industry. Our coalition met with Sen. Schoenberg on two different occasions and also Senate President Cullerton, and minority leaders Rep. Tom Cross and Sen. Christine Radogno. The group also met with Rep. Patricia Bellock who is sponsoring the bill in the House. After listening to our concerns the bill was not called for a vote and the sponsors have pledged to have it ready for the fall session. Both sponsors have indicated that they would again discuss this bill with us before the fall session. We are planning several meetings this summer with all legislators concerned about the contents of this bill. Rudy J. Kink, Jr.ISEA Retirees Executive Director
UPDATE As many of you are aware, there has been a lot of talk and criticism over the benefits State Employees receive upon retirement. This has beenthe reason for several committee meetings andproposed legislation to make changes in a retiree’s benefits. The Retirees Coalition, made up of the Illinois State Employees Association Retirees (ISEA/R), the State University Annuitants Association (SUAA) and the Retired State Employees Association (RSEA) and their lobbyists, have attended each committee meeting to voice opposition to any change in benefits. The Coalition has held meetings with Senate President John Cullerton, Senate Minority Leader Christine Rodagno and House Minority Leader Tom Cross to discuss our position. The Coalition plans additional meetings with these leaders as well as other legislative leaders in our effort to protect retiree’s benefits.
RETIREES SPEAK OUT!!! They are proposing the following: ISEA Retirees believes the annual income of your household is not a fair comparison for the premium you pay for your healthcare. We believe all State of Illinois Retirees must speak out loud and clear, "We do not want our healthcare coverage to become too expensive to maintain!" Now is the time to write or call our local representatives to make your opinion known. Check the 'your legislator link' or call us (217) 698-6070 for your representative's address and telephone number.
Early Retiree Insurance Program Central Management Services (CMS) recently mailedletters informing everyone who is covered under the State of Illinois Group Insurance aboutthe Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. This notification is mandated by the Federal Government as part of the Affordable Care Act Program. All employers that participate in this program (both private and public employers) are required to furnish the notificationyou already received.CMS has assured us there is no change in the benefits of our health coverage.The government will reimburse employers who continue to carry health benefits for certain catastrophic claims. In order for the State of Illinois to receive reimbursements, they had to comply with the new federal regulations bynotifying all their insured members. Remember...NO changes will be made to our benefits because of this and NO response is needed from you. To repeat -- This notice from CMS is meant to be informative only and requires no action by any member or dependent. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/fact-sheet-early-retiree-reinsurance-program
ISEA Retirees Director, Rudy J. Kink, Jr., interview on pension/healthcare reform. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAMN9DVQypo
In an effort to oppose any legislation adversely effecting retirees three associations have formed a coalition. Rudy J. Kink, Jr., Executive Director ISEA Retirees, Linda Brookhart, Executive Director State Universities annuitants Association, and Randy Witter, Lobbyist representing the Retired State Employees Association along with Lobbyist for each Association meets regularly during the Legislative session to review any legislation affecting the Retirees. Pictures from press conference on May 5, 2010 at the State Capitol Building
Coalition for Retirees Rights From Left: Bill Curry, RSEA President; Linda Brookhart, SUAA Executive Director; Rudy J. Kink, Jr. ISEA/R Executive Director
State-retirees talk pain of higher-health costs By John Guidroz THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER Posted May 5, 2010 @ 11:46 PM Last update May 6, 2010 @ 5:42 AM A group of retired state workers say they shouldn’t see hefty increases in health care costs as the state deals with major budget shortfall. Quinn has proposed making retirees pay a greater share of their health care costs. He and lawmakers also are discussing giving the governor authority to increase those under emergency budget authority. Linda Brookhart, director of the State University Annuitants Association, said at the Statehouse news conference Wednesday that the increases would push some retirees onto welfare rolls. Rudy J Kink, Jr. with the Illinois State Employees Association Retirees said the state could prevent the hikes by cutting pork barrel spending. “We picked up our dental insurance last year because that was one thing the state couldn’t afford anymore,” he said. “Where does it stop at?” That comes as the House Republicans push to end millions of dollars in pay raises for unionized state workers. They acknowledge that proposal won’t advance in the final days of session buy say it’s important to send the message that the raises are unfair at a time when other needs are sacrificing.
State University Retirement System Teachers Retirement System State Employees Retirement System
*************************************** ISEA Retirees |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © 2006 Illinois State Employees Association |
 |
