Breakfast Meeting Canceled
We are extremely disappointed to report that our September 30, 2021, SFCRTA Breakfast Meeting is being canceled. When the Leadership Team met at the end of July to finalize details, we were faced with the unfolding news that a return to more restrictive ways of dealing with the COVID-19 spread was on the horizon. Keeping in mind that our members fall into the cautious demographic and that having to wear masks wouldn’t work for our indoor breakfast event, we reluctantly determined that we were unlikely to reach our minimum 100 in attendance and, most importantly, did not want to risk harm to those in attendance.
It is especially disappointing because our speaker, Kathleen Holt’s knowledge about Medicare insurance would have been very timely as members make the decision whether to select a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan. If she is able to provide some helpful information to us, we will include it in our next Newsletter.
Reminder- A Health Insurance Change is Coming
As of January 1, 2022, for all Medicare-eligible members, our health insurance and pharmacy benefits will be delivered by UnitedHealthcare. No more Anthem Blue Cross, no more Express Scripts. The Dental coverage will remain with CIGNA.
The first question people will ask is, “Am I still able to see the medical providers I want to see?” Here is what information is available on the TRB website.
With the UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage plan, you are not limited to a network of health care providers and you can see any provider that accepts Medicare for the same cost share (copay). For Medicare-covered services, you can continue to see your doctors as long as they have not opted out of Medicare and agree to see you. Nationally, over 99% of health care providers participate in Medicare; in Connecticut the participation rate is 99.7%.
UnitedHealthcare will provide a custom transition call center team and a dedicated website to serve Teachers’ Retirement Board retirees through this transition and beyond.
What about pharmacy coverage?
UnitedHealthcare will provide a custom Group Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plan designed exclusively for TRB Medicare retirees and eligible dependents. This custom plan should not be confused with other UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans that you might see or hear about in your area.
The UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage plan and Prescription Drug coverage retains current covered benefits including all benefits provided under Medicare Parts A and B and will include Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage and new programs and features including a fitness benefit and a new Healthy at Home benefit that includes non-emergency medical rides, home delivered meals, personal custodial care — all in one plan with one ID card.
The UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Supplement plan and Prescription Drug coverage also retains current benefits including a fitness benefit.
Medication Substitution
If you or your spouse use the insulin medication Lantus, you should know that a new biosimilar, not generic, but biosimilar, medication called Semglee has recently gained approval as a substitution for Lantus. The FDA approval allows the substitution to happen at the pharmacy level, which means that the pharmacy is allowed to make this substitution without intervention from the physician. The new medication is less expensive.
Here are some things to know about the Lantus change, keeping in mind that as with tax advice, we don’t give medical advice. The change may take place as of January 1, 2022. The substitution is due to the new regulation, not to the upcoming change in your health insurance plan; the timing is coincidental. It is likely that the previous pharmacy would have made the same change. If you have questions about the new medication, you should address them with your physician, who will likely be setting out to learn and understand how the new medication works
For this, or other medications, if you should require a different medication than what the pharmacy offers, you may work with your physician to be granted a tier exception. It doesn’t lower the cost of the medication you need, but it does allow you to use a specific medication instead of one the pharmacy selects.
Part-Time Employment Opportunity
New Pond Farm Education Center. Check on our website https://sfcrta.com/resources/
Report Card
- Raise the Connecticut State Income Tax deduction on TRB pension income to 50% as previously promised. The 50% deduction on state income tax goes into effect for 2021.
- Tie the pension investment fund return standard for receiving the COLA to 6.9%, the same expected rate of return of the pension fund, which was reduced from 8%.
Thank you to all of our members who contacted Connecticut legislators to support our interests in getting these changes to happen.
Additional good news- Connecticut’s revenues are higher than expected and contributions to our pension fund for 2022 and 2023 are scheduled to be much higher than originally planned.
The issues we still need to address include adding another Retired Teacher Representative to the TRB and supporting the Social Security Fairness initiatives to overturn the WEP and GPO provisions. The SSA Fairness issues have been frustrating, but it is important to continue working to get these changes made. Go to https://ssfairness.org and sign up to join their mailing list. You will receive information about how and when you can make a difference for this cause.
Internet Safety Tips
Are you aware of the many helpful tips about what to do and not do when using the Internet so you won’t get hooked by a phishing scam? For example:
- Do not reply to emails, text messages or pop-up messages requesting personal or financial information.
- Look for the “https” prefix and a closed padlock when entering any financial information for electronic transmission over the Internet.
- Contact organizations or institutions with whom you do business in response to unsolicited e-mails using their company name by calling the number provided on official company statements.
Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection provides a variety of useful information about how to stay safe online, including a booklet with suggestions for chatting with children about being online. Additional resources are available from New York State links. If you go to our website to see this newsletter, you are able to click on all links provided.
https://portal.ct.gov/DCP/Common-Elements/Common-Elements/Resources-to-Help-You-Stay-Safe-Online
https://dos.ny.gov/phishing-scam-prevention-tips
https://dos.ny.gov/protecting-yourself-when-online
Tips from the Anti-Phishing Working Group
Phishing is a form of Internet fraud that aims to steal personal information such as credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, user IDs and passwords. These schemes can also trick the recipient into installing malicious software onto a computer or mobile device.
Here are some tips to keep you safe from phishing schemes:
- Do not respond to emails, mail, telephone solicitations, text messages, raffles or contests from unknown entities.
- Do not answer email warnings that have “undisclosed recipients” in the address line, a blank space next to “Dear,” numerous spelling errors, and/or awkward English.
- Do not email personal or financial information including credit card or bank account numbers, passwords, Social Security numbers, etc. Most internet email is NOT secure.
- Do not be fooled by legitimate-looking emails even if they contain logos, pictures, copyrights or names of legitimate businesses.
- Do not reply to emails, text messages or pop-up messages requesting personal or financial information.
- Do not click on links in unsolicited messages which can connect to suspicious websites.
- Do not update personal information online in response to emailed or messaged requests.
- Do not cut and paste a link from an unsolicited message into a web browser, as these links can be made to look like they go to one site, but are actually redirected to another to mine information.
- Do not respond to calls from alleged companies or government agencies which use a recorded message and ask you to call a phone number to update account information. Phishing can also occur by phone.
- Install, update and use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, as well as firewalls to help reduce the number of phishing emails received.
- Review financial account statements as soon as you receive them to check for unauthorized charges.
- Check credit reports regularly. This can be done free of charge three times a year through the three reporting agencies found online at Annual Credit Report.
- Exercise caution when opening any attachment or downloading any files from messages received even from known sources, to avoid the possibility of infecting computers with viruses, malware, spyware, or other software designed to impair your computer’s security.
- Look for the “https” prefix and a closed padlock when entering any financial information for electronic transmission over the Internet.
- Contact organizations or institutions with whom you do business in response to unsolicited emails using their company name by calling the number provided on official company statements.
- Act immediately if you provided personal identifiable information to unknown or unverified parties by notifying the companies with whom you have the accounts and by placing a security freeze or fraud alert on your files at credit reporting agencies.