Former Governor Paul LePage made major and drastic cuts to the pensions of teachers and ed tech IIs and IIIs and despite our best efforts we have been unable to undue to these cuts because of Maine’s unique constitutional constraints.
However, the state can help by increasing its share of health care costs for retired educators and others in the MainePERS system. Rising the state contribution for the MEA BT Medicare Advantage plan from 60% to 65% and the cost is only a little more than $3 million, and would make a meaningful difference fore retirees.
LD 111, An Act to Increase the State Share of Retired Teachers Health Care, is sponsored by MEA-Retired leader Representative Jan Dodge of Belfast. This bill will help ensure current and future retirees can count on the support they’ve earned.
Please email your legislators and let them know why it is important to support retired teachers and educators by providing more for their health insurance.
