All members are welcome to join us Monday, October 10, 2022 at 12pm.

The Executive Board meets at 10am.

Meeting Details

at the Residence Inn by Marriott

1229 Walla Walla Avenue, Wenatchee

Lunch is $16 - Please bring the correct amount of cash if possible.

(Checks to CDSRA or Cash Only)
 

These details are also available on our Meetings page on the website.

President's Message

Welcome Back – It’s Election Season.

Analysts and bill drafters are now off summer break and are getting ready for the 2023 legislative session.

In May the WSSRA newsletter explained that WSSRA had two tasks to complete over the summer: requesting another Plan 1 COLA and building support for retirees by working with candidates for the legislature. Progress has been made on both fronts.

The Select Committee on Pension Policy started meeting in May this year. The Committee is poised to recommend the legislature pass another Plan 1 COLA. The specifics have not yet been determined. This is an excellent time to weigh in. If you want the pension committee to address this Plan 1 issue, please send your comments to state.actuary@leg.wa.gov or State Actuary; P.O. Box 40914; Olympia WA 98504-0914. 

WSSRA’s units and the Washington State School Retirees’ – Political Action Committee (WSSR-PAC) have been busy meeting with candidates for the legislature. The WSSR-PAC has issued contributions to legislative candidates supporting retiree pension and healthcare issues – with PAC money, not WSSRA dues money. The WSSRA Executive Board has issued political endorsements to legislators and candidates striving to achieve retirees’ legislative goals. 

As we move deeper into autumn and winter, the political work will shift fully to bill drafting and lobbying. I will keep you posted along the way.

Peter Diedrick – WSSRA Legislative Director

Retirees: This affects your future!

On July 14 the PEBB Board unanimously voted to delay any vote on a possible phase-out of Uniform Medical Plan Classic (UMP Classic) until at least January of 2024. This means that UMP-Classic will be one of the PEBB Medicare supplement options at least for the next two years, and probably beyond that. However, UMP Classic is by far the most expensive of the PEBB Medicare plans.

2023 PEBB Medicare Retiree Rates, Single Subscriber:

UMP Classic Medicare                                      $438.34

United Health Care (MA-PD) PEBB Complete       $145.63

United Health Care (MA-PD) PEBB Balanced        $122.94

Premera Medicare Supplement Plan F                  $115.16

Premera Medicare Supplement Plan G                  $  98.53

With clear cost differences between UMP Classic and the other options, WSSRA sponsored an HCA/PEBB webinar on the topic on Monday, August 22.

Those who missed the August 22 webinar can access a recording of the webinar on the WSSRA website (www.wssra.org). Once on the website, hit the “Events” tab and scroll down to the recording.

Anyone considering a change in PEBB Medicare supplement providers
for 2023 must make that decision by November 30. 

Alan Burke – WSSRA Executive Director  

More News & Updates

Please let us know if we can update your contact information, just email CDSRA@outlook.com