State Retirees Would Lose Under Scott’s CIGNA “Medicare Advantage” Proposal
Fact Sheet #2
VRSEA represents 8,000+ State retirees and their families. On their behalf we assert that moving State retirees into a Medicare Advantage plan is a violation of State retirees’ statutory rights. We understand that this issue may be taken up in the 2023 Legislative session. We ask legislators who represent State retirees and their families, to understand the impacts this proposal would have on their elderly constituents. Please support your constituents against changes to their current health plan without their knowledge or agreement.
- The State Retirees’ Health Care Plan Is Guaranteed in Statute
- · State retirees have given years of dedicated service to the citizens and State of Vermont. While employees, retirees agreed to lesser pay increases for the guarantee of keeping their same health care plan in retirement. This guarantee has been a long-standing condition of employment with State government.
- · For decades, and by design, state employees and retirees have been covered by the same health care plans. The benefits and conditions of coverage under the plans are negotiated through collective bargaining between the State and the VSEA. When a person retires, he or she keeps their same plan, wrapping around Medicare. This is a common understanding as a condition of employment when a person goes to work for the State.
- · The State now proposes to move State retirees out of the State/VSEA negotiated benefit plans into a standalone Medicare Advantage Plan. In addition to other detrimental effects, VRSEA believes this would be a violation of current statute.
- · State retirees are entitled to keep the same health care plan they had as state employees. 3VSA 21 ss631 states, “For purposes of hospital-surgical-medical insurance, the term “employees” shall include employees as defined in subdivision (2)(A) and former employees as defined in this subdivision who are retired and who are receiving a retirement allowance from the Vermont State Retirement system…”.
- · 3VSA 16 ss479 (a) states, “As provided under Section 631 of this title, a member who is insured by the respective group insurance plans immediately preceding the member’s effective date of retirement shall be entitled to continuation of group insurance as follows: (1)(A) coverage in the group medical plan provided by the State of Vermont for active employees;…”
Contact:
Shelley Martin, VRSEA President, at (802) 595-1888, or 2020VRSEAwork@gmail.com
Bridget Morris, VRSEA Lobbyist, at bmorris@vtlobbyist.com