Prescription Plan and Medicare Updates
(Maryland State Employees)
Retirees that have not reached 65
May 14, 2024
We have had some inquiries from the retirees that have not reached 65. These are the facts pertaining to those persons.
Non-Medicare retirees will stay on the current prescription plan. No change until the month they turn 65.
If an individual reaches 65 on June 9th, they need to be enrolled in Medicare A, B and D as of June 1.
The basics are in the 2024 Benefits Guide. A new 2025 Benefits Guide will provide updated information.
DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT
Health Benefits Website
Update – Prescription and Medicare Issues
May 1, 2024
As I am sure you are aware the 2024 Legislative Session ended without passage of our prescription bills. While this was extremely disappointing, our concerns were heard by our representatives on the committees and there is true bipartisan interest in addressing problems that are unique to the Maryland State Police.
As a result of surveys that were sent out earlier this year, we are beginning this process by initially focusing our efforts to ensure that no retiree/surviving spouse is experiencing out of pocket expenses for MEDICARE PART A. As a result of our collective testimony in Annapolis, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has enthusiastically joined us and are going through their data bases in an attempt to locate Medicare eligible retirees with Part A, out of pocket expenses. While they are not aware of any retirees with Part A out of pocket expenses, they have identified 106 retirees and 2 surviving spouses that have been captured in their safety net whereby the State of Maryland covers their Part A shortfalls. Members that we identified with Part A coverage expenses thus far, have all had their issues addressed and rectified.
Moving forward, we must make a concentrated effort to reach out through email, message boards, social media and word of mouth, to ensure our older retirees and surviving spouses have the benefit coverage they are entitled to with minimal out of pocket expenses. This is a priority especially as we begin our transition to Medicare Part D. Our goal is to attend as many of the regional retiree breakfast meetings and lodge meetings as we can, to provide an open forum for discussion on the Medicare and Social Security Topics. We will reach out to regional coordinators and notify you when we will be at your breakfast/lodge meeting to get as many folks out and informed as possible. If you are aware of or suspect that someone has PART A expenses, have them contact DBM immediately (contact information listed below.
Of further interest and note, we were advised by DBM they are in the process of hiring counselors to assist in the transition to Medicare Part D. While the office of DBM will be sending out more information in the future, it is their plan for the counselors to contact Medicare eligible retirees and individually review the retiree’s prescription list, and enroll them in the Part D that best suits the retirees’ needs. This will most likely not be a perfect process. As we head into these uncertain times, there will certainly be fear and trepidation on all of our parts. We are all in this together and together we will get through it. The MSPAA and MTA are united and committed to assisting our retirees and surviving spouses through these uncertain times.
As we move forward, Don McCord will continue to lead our efforts on behalf of the Alumni Association and Rick Norman will be coordinating efforts on behalf of the MTA. Please contact them with any questions or concerns and to schedule meetings within your region or lodge.
Contacts for Assistance
Maryland State Police Alumni AssociationDon McCord
ph. 410-925-8844
Email: djmccord@comcast.net
Maryland Troopers Association
Rick Norman
ph. 1-800-TROOPER
ph. 1-800-876-6737
Email: director@mdtroopers.org
Department of Budget Management
Christina Kuminski (Director Employee Benefits Division)
ph. 410-767-4787
Email: Christina.Kuminski@maryland.gov
Next Steps – Prescription and Medicare Issues
March 22, 2024
As many of you are aware, we have been engaged in an uphill battle to restore prescription benefits to Medicare eligible retirees. While neither the Senate or House bills made it out of committee this year, it does not mean the fight is over. We will continue our efforts to restore retiree benefits by working closely with the MTA and other State retiree groups by collecting real time data demonstrating the true impact of the State’s actions and reintroducing new legislation.
As part of our efforts to date, we discovered a number of retired Troopers paying out of pocket for Medicare Part A. This is most unfortunate and we are working to fix this oversight and need your help. If you were a sworn member or surviving spouse (or know someone in this category that is not a member), paying out of pocket for Medicare Part A, we need to hear from you by June 1, 2024.
Don McCord will be leading our efforts and can be contacted directly at 410-925-8844 orEmail: djmccord@comcast.net
Don will need the following information:
Name
Years Served
Amount paid for Part A (and how long you have been paying out of pocket)
Current email with call back telephone number.
While the current focus is Medicare Part A at this time feel free to contact Don if you have already transitioned to Medicare Part D and wish to share that information also. We may be able to use any Part D information to help other retirees as we all move forward together into this relatively unchartered territory.
Jeannie Mastronardi
President, Maryland State Police Alumni Association
Other Prescription Plan Resources
The University of Maryland Emeritus/Emerita Association
Video & Resources – Panel Discussion: MD State Employees & Retirees’ Prescription Plan Changes
Maryland State Government Retirees & Employees (facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/MdSGR
Bring Back Prescription Benefits for State of Maryland Retirees (facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/238150303628330/
Page updated: May 17, 2024 @ 0855 hours.