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Retiree Network News

Articles from the AFT Michigan Forum

Volume 64, No. 1, Fall 2004

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Decision 2004
By John Olekszyk
Chair, MFTSRP Retiree Network

Each morning as the working world rushes to their respective jobs, we retirees have the luxury of a leisurely cup of coffee at the kitchen table (or a local Tim Horton's) with the morning paper and the prospect of a quiet and peaceful day. A quick look at our Horoscope suggests the need to purchase a Lottery ticket. The sports page gives us hope for a semi-successful Lions season. The crossword puzzle challenges us for just a few moments. We have a sense of relief when we don't recognize any names in the obituaries.

And then we begin to read the political "news" of the day and our sense of peace and calm comes to a crashing end.

I am sick and tired of reading stories about who is telling the "truth" about the "truth". I don't need to read another story about Swift Boats or the Texas Air National Guard. I don't need to see the twins make fun of their grandmother. I'm really getting to dislike not living in a blue or a red state. Limbaugh and Hannity really get on my nerves with six hours a day of ranting and raving about terrorism, Iraq and attacking Theresa Heinz. I can't figure who is winning the news battle, the Washington Post or Fox News. And we all needed to know which convention won the battle over balloons and confetti.

Except for Iraq and terrorism, this presidential campaign has failed to address virtually all of the social and economic issues except in generalities and promises of improvement.

Everyone agrees that seniors/retirees represent the largest, most active and oftentimes the most independent voting block in the country.

Both candidates have yet to speak at length on the specifics of those issues of concern to seniors. The reaction and confusion of seniors to the recent Medicare Drug program clearly shows the necessity to address their concerns. This program, which was promised to provide long-awaited relief from burdensome drug costs, has turned into a confusing, over-priced boondoggle for the drug companies.

Seniors want to know about their pensions and if they will be protected if their company goes bust or across the border. They want to know that their Social Security and their health care will continue at a level that allows them to maintain their dignity and lifestyle. Many are also concerned how these same issues will apply to their children and grandchildren.

It is incumbent upon both candidates and those that speak for them to fully explain how and when they plan to meet the needs of those of us who are dependent upon the state and national governments for a large portion of their financial and medical support systems

A visit to the websites of the Bush and Kerry campaigns offer some insight to their promises.

George Bush's proposals are directed at making these three "benefits"the responsibility of the individual rather than a system ofgovernmental support. In those areas where the government would intervene the insurance, drug and financial institutions would have a large and more profitable role in the process while you struggle to "save" the money which will protect you in the future.

Kerry has pledged to continue and "improve" the present support systems through a series of steps which provide for more government involvement. His plans call for a substantial increase in the costs that go with such a proposal.

Regardless of their campaign promises, the future of millions of elderly and not so elderly Americans will be determined by the decision made in November.

Cast your vote in November. Cast it responsibly and with a full understanding of the issues. And cast your vote in your own self-interest as a senior/retiree because if you don't, no else will do it for you.

Medicare Part B Premiums to Rise 17.5 Percent Next Year

Monthly premiums for Medicare Part B -- which covers doctor services, outpatient hospital care, some home health services and durable medical equipment -- will increase 17.5 percent to $78.20 in 2005, HHS officials announced Sept. 3.

The rise of $11.60 per month is the single largest dollar increase in Medicare's history. Officials from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services acknowledged that 15 percent of the premium increase will go directly from seniors' pocketbooks to HMOs every year.

Medicare premiums have risen 56 percent in the last four years. The Bush administration claims that the major factor behind increased premiums is higher spending under traditional, fee-for-service Medicare, particularly in higher payments to doctors. Under the new Medicare law, payments to doctors in 2005 will rise by 1.5 percent instead of decreasing by 4.5 percent as was planned initially. The new Medicare law also calls for increased payments to private Medicare plans, which also contributed to the premium increase.

HHS also announced that the deductible for Medicare Part A -- which covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facilities and some home healthcare -- will increase by $36 to $912 in 2005. In his acceptance speech at the Republican convention, the night before the record increase was announced, President Bush said, "We have a moral responsibility to honor America's seniors. Now seniors are getting immediate help."

The White House and Republican leaders in Congress have consistently blocked efforts to allow Medicare to use its bulk purchasing power to negotiate lower drug prices, a major contributor to soaring Medicare costs. A recent Johns Hopkins report found that if Medicare could negotiate drug prices similar to those in Canada and other nations, where they often are 34 percent to 59 percent cheaper, Congress could eliminate the entire coverage gap in the Medicare drug benefit. Critics charge that the administration moved up announcement of the record-breaking Medicare premiums from its traditional date in mid-October to distance the bad news from the November election.

Retiree Network News

With the help of a financial grant from the AFT Retiree Dept. and the resources of the MFTSRP, the Retire Network has begun the final phase of its effort to identify all retirees from Federation locals in the state. This project which began in 2003 is directed at an estimated 20,000 teachers and non-certified members who are receiving MPSERS pensions and benefits.

When completed this new retiree list will provide the MFTSRP and the AFT with a greatly enlarged database of retirees who still retain their membership in both organizations even though they are not actively employed. It will allow the AFT to extend a wide variety of services and benefits to those thousands who were dropped from their membership rolls when they retired.

The program will also enable the state and national organizations to provide information on various educational, economic and political issues that affect all retirees through their various publications and mailings.

The project is under the direction of John Olekszyk, a Roseville Fed. Retiree, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Retiree Network, and Beth Thoreson, Asst. to MFTSRP Pres. David Hecker. Bonnie Tolman, another Roseville retiree who also serves as the Webmaster for the MFTSRP and several other locals is handling the information technology portion of the undertaking.

The projected completion date for the project is mid-November, 2004.