Fred,
It seems at the stakeholders meeting on Thursday, Oct. 17 (at least for representatives of retirees in the CIP program, though I’m sure there was a similar meeting for “stakeholders” for TRIP), that SUAA bought into the everything is going to be fine, now that information has been released. As with the IEA whose letter indicates that simply releasing information (which CMS said they were going to do all along, though a bit late) was seen as a victory. (“Bore fruit”)
The SUAA director has bought into these plans will be good for us: ”will be pleased to see the premium changes available for you,” “United Health Care Insurance PPO will cover any out-of-network doctors….etc”, “if you have done your homework you will be able to make a choice fairly rapidly.” And above all, “Advice – KEEP CALM.” What she doesn’t point out is that there are no in-network doctors in original Medicare. We can go anywhere as long as the doctor accepts Medicare Assignment.
And she advises people not to come to oversight hearing as the room will be too small and people won’t even be allowed to enter. So much for public input!
So at least as of last week, the IFT is not going to issue a statement at the Oct. 23rd meeting, and given the IEA and SUAA responses, retirees have no leadership to even raise questions. Is this a fair assessment?
I hope that your retired teachers meeting will take this up in your meetings.
Again, thank you for your work on this. And for organizing Friday afternoon’s event at Biss’ office.
– A reader
Fred Klonsky 
This in-network plan is discrimination for those of us on Medicare who could go anywhere. I am especially concerned about the drug plan. They supposedly closed the donut hole, but what about specialty drugs ? If we have to pay 33% of a specialty drug as with Part D, many seniors will go broke quickly. That or die.
Be careful about buying into comments that the new United Healthcare PPO “will cover any out-of-network doctors”. CMS announced this PPO as a “Medicare Advantage” policy (which is not the same as the regular Medicare thru the Feds that we have now). Keep your eyes open for the fact that full policy coverage is limited to using in network doctors and hospitals……..and not (usually) any doctors or hospitals that accept Medicare. Keep an eye on what you might pay if you use out-of-network docs or hospitals for anything. Go to medicareadvocasy.org and select Topics and read the Medicare Reform Proposals and then the Medicare Advantage articles to see what I am seeing about the problems we face.
A retired Illinois Educator
Sent from my iPad
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“Keep calm and carry on” was the official, approved message that the British gave its people in preparation for massive air attacks for which there was little if any defense.
This entire situation is a corporate attack, with the help of paid and/or intimidated stooges called legislators, against the people who earned their pensions.
Join Illinois Retired Teachers Association and contribute to its defense fund. Their ONLY purpose is to protect retirees and their pensions and benefits. If you don’t have a local chapter, join at the state level and travel to a nearby community. It is well worth the few dollars a month it costs to belong, and it can be taken out of your pension automatically if you wish. This is my third year as a member, and I am very impressed with the local and regional meetings. The state meeting starts this week in Springfield.
Mary,
Thanks. I will be in Springfield this week for the IRTA state meeting. I strongly encourage all retired to join IRTA and IEA Retired and the IFT. What doesn’t work is working alone. In my view, IRTA and IEA Retired are not in competition. I am vice president of the North Lakeshore Chapter of IRTA and President of the Skokie Chapter of IEA Retired.
http://www.irtaonline.org/