LATEST NEWS
..... LEGISLATIVE NEWS IS HERE
September 2018 meeting
*** NOTE: The October meeting will be held on October 24th ***
UNITED POLICE & FIRE RETIREES ASSOCIATION REPORT
- UPFRA President Peter Ruszczak advised that there was no new business to report
OLD BUSINESS:
- President Marcely asked if anyone had issues to report regarding health insurance. There were none. President Marcely requested that if anyone has an issue to email PBA President Jeff Piedmonte because his meeting with City Hall may include the subject
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- Brother's Corbett & Rybak discussed that our $15.00 co-pay for a Shingles shot was considerably less than the actual cost.
NEW BUSINESS:
- President Marcely informed everyone that elections for positions on the Executive Board and Board of Directors will be held this year. Anyone in good standing interested in running for either was encouraged to participate. It was noted that Corresponding Secretary and Sgt At Arms will be vacant. A request was made for a volunteer to chair those elections and none offered to do so.
GOOD & WELFARE:
- Tom Bland's wife recently passed away and a sympathy card was available, at the front table, for those wishing to sign it.
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- Brother Carm Surace advised that Brother Fred Wild is in the hospital, his condition is unknown.
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- Brother Roger Baker shared info regarding a lacrosse tournament at Tri-Town Park on October 6-7. It will raise funds for Galisano Children's Center at Upstate Hospital. He stated the FOP had made a $200 donation and asked for a similar amount from us. He produced the required written request for such donation and the Board of Directors present approved the request and the members approved it without objection.
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- Brother Corbett discussed his concern regarding the policy and current practices of the SPD Ceremonial Unit. He has noticed that recently SPD Officers participating in wakes and funerals are not positioned at the casket. Instead, the Officers are positioned at the doors, leaving the casket unattended, diminishing the importance and significance of the ceremonial unit. Vice President Bill Rybak suggested discussing this concern with Police Chief Fowler. Continued discussion, suggested talking to D.C. Joe Cecile. Executive VP Steve Thompson advised that he speaks to Chief Fowler on a regular basis. Thompson will bring this concern to Chief Fowler in an attempt to get the issue resolved. A second concern regarding the Ceremonial Unit is the length of time the Officers are at the wake/funerals. Officers should arrive prior to the start of the wake and stay well past the end. Officers are now earning bonus time for their efforts and should respectfully remain at the service for the duration.
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- President Marcely recognized a significant showing of female Retirees in attendance and welcomed them.
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- Brother Bob Haumann advised that Mrs. Reed Stevens brought brownies to the meeting in appreciation of the kindness shown at the passing of Brother Reed Stevens
- NEW YORK STATE & LOCAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM (NYSLRS)
- NYSLRS Website
- New York State Pension Fund Value - New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced that the New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) earned an estimated 11.35 percent return on investments in the State fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2018. The Fund ended the year with an estimated value of $206.9 billion ...
Read more ...
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....... SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP .......
Phyllis Lorenz - "To help others who experience the loss of their spouse, attending calling hours, help with paperwork or anything else that may be needed. We can assist in finding painters, handymen, contractors & yard work.
You can contact Phyllis via email at phylgeorge@aol.com
AIR 1 FOUNDATION
Please help keep Air 1 flying.
The Air 1 Foundation website.
.......... IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL RETIREES ..........
AETNA-POMCO-PROACT
- If you are under 65 yrs of age United Health Care is your insurance carrier
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- If you are 65 or older Aetna PPO is your health insurance carrier. Stating the PPO is important to your medical providers
- Inform your medical provider to call the number on the back of your Aetna PPO card and not the providers usual Aetna number
- You must notify your doctor/medical office to submit their bill to Aetna PPO & NOT Medicare.
- Aetna will handle all transactions/billing/payments/coverage instead of Medicare.
- You have the right to decline the Aetna Home Assessment Program Review
- Some of the letters you receive from Aetna are generic Aetna items & have nothing to do with our Aetna PPO plan.
- You MUST continue your current Medicare coverage & it's payment because Aetna is our contractor for Medicare.
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- Regardless of your age, ProAct is your prescription carrier.
- If you are 65 or older... ProAct will send a new card/id that you must use for your prescription coverage.
- Nothing is changing regarding coverage/co-payments, pharmacy choice, etc. It's just a new card/id you must use.
- If you ANY questions or issues contact City Hall: 315.448.8788.
- Covered under Part B of Medicare on the City of Syracuse Aetna Plan
- ..Flu shots, Diabetic testing strips (Lancets and test strips) and glucose meter. You can get both of these at the pharmacy.
- ..Use the Aetna ID card, which has the Member ID & Group number. Also provide BIN#610649 and PCN#03200004
- ..Those numbers allow the pharmacy to process the claim on the Pharmacy claim system even those are both medical benefits.
- ..You can also get Diabetes testing supplies mail order.
- ..You may also receive the flu shot at the doctors office using the Aetna ID card.
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- Covered under Part D of Medicare on the City of Syracuse Proact/Precise Plan
- ..Shingles Vaccine, Diabetes medications insulin. Please contact Proact
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HELP FOR SENIORS
- For information regarding help with your heating costs,
click here
- Onondaga County Dept of Adult & Long Term Care.. 315.435.3355
- Info regarding Caregiver Servies, EISEP, HEAP, HIICAP, Community Service, Adult Protective Services, Mental Health Services, Veterans Services
MEDICARE (Part A & B)
- SPD retirees are reminded that they MUST sign up for Medicare Part A & B when they become eligible
- That is when they reach age 65 or are declared disabled by Social Security.
- At that point, Medicare (Aetna) becomes your primary health insurance and the City's health plan becomes secondary
MEDICARE-DRUG PRESCRIPTION PLAN (Part D)
- Our advice (both the local and state organizations) is DO NOT sign up for Part D-prescription coverage at this time.
- If your former employer has prescription coverage, there is NO PENALTY to sign up later. Plus, employers are encouraged by the federal government to keep their prescription coverage. They can receive up to 28% reimbursement for their expenses.
NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM
- Would you like to donate your time for a great cause and share your expertise with others?
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- The National Law Enforcement Museum offers several volunteer opportunities to fit your experience and your schedule. Visitor Experience Volunteers welcome visitors, provide general information about the Museum and help guests plan their journey through the exhibits. Event Volunteers help with special events, such as National Police Week and the Run for the Badge 5K. Volunteer Educators help lead high-quality, visitor-centered tours of the Museum’s collections and exhibits. Are you a current or former law enforcement officer? We have important volunteer opportunities for you, too. Law Enforcement Volunteers share their expertise with visitors and help them see what walking in the shoes of an officer is really like.
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- To learn more about the volunteer program, please visit the Museum's volunteer opportunities page.
NYS SAFE ACT & RETIREES EXEMPTION
- We believe it only exempts retired officers from penalty of possessing large capacity magazines and/or assault type weapons if that retired officer was required to purchase that item by his agency when he was active as a Police Officer or was issued that item by his employer and allowed to keep it upon retirement. In both cases he must register that item within 60 days of retirement. Additionally he must have served at least 5 or more years with that agency and retired in good standing. He also must continually re-qualify with that weapon as required by law.
- Link to actual section of the law
PISTOL PERMIT
You are now required to recertify your pistol permit.
Here is the link to NYS Troopers website to do so.
- Federal Law HR#218 allows retired police officers to carry firearms across state line
- IF..You have your retired ID with you AND proof that you have qualified with that type weapon within the last 12 months
- Any state firearms instructor may qualify you including any that may be found on our SPONSOR page
- ..An important aspect of Federal Law HR218 is to remember is that it IS NOT a Concealed Carry Permit
- ..It is an "Affirmative Defense" to a State charge of weapons possession and that must be raised and proven by the defendant. You lose this defense if you are under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or hallucinatory drug or substance. If you have a Concealed Carry Permit, consuming alcohol does not invalidate the Permit, but consuming alcohol does invalidate your HR218 meaning you are subject to a State charge of weapons possession.
- ..New York Penal Law 265.03, is very clear; if you are convicted of this offense there is a mandatory minimum sentence of 3.5 year in prison
- .."A person is guilty of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree pursuant to New York Penal Law 265.03(3) when that person possesses a loaded firearm (pistol, revolver, handgun, etc.) outside his or her home or place of business without a permit regardless of what the intent was".
- ..Under the laws of New York, loaded does not mean a clip in the gun or a bullet in the cylinder. If the firearm is capable of being loaded and the bullets are in the case with the gun or even in your pocket, you can still potentially be charged with this offense.
PROACT
- ..Maintenance drugs (those you take all the time) MUST be by mail order in 90 day supplies.
- ..PROACT will pay for the original fill and one refill on your prescriptions from the local pharmacy. After that point you will have to pay 100% or use PROACT.
- ..SOME drugs cannot be prescribed for more than 30 days. PROACT will continue to cover these.
- ..If your doctor is changing the dosage, that is a new prescription and can be filled at the pharmacy until the dosage is regulated
PROJECT LIFESAVER
- Unique transmitter from the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office for Alzheimer's patients
- Contact the OCSD at 407 S State St - Syracuse - (315)435-3044
TAX DEDUCTION FOR INSURANCE PREMIUM
- If your health insurance premium is automatically taken from your NYS pension, you may deduct the premiums from the taxable portion of your tax return. You must remember to write PSO; (Public Safety Officer) on the line where you report the taxable amount of your pension. This does NOT apply to Medicare Premiums because they do not come out of your state pension nor does it apply to your state tax form because state pensions are not taxable.
SURVIVOR HEALTH INSURANCE
- SPD retiree survivors may continue your health insurance plan for a monthly payment.
- Contact City of Syracuse at 315-448-8788 for pricing of individual or family plans.
VETERANS
- If you served 90 consecutive days (or one day wartime) in the US Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines you may be entitled to receive up to $6000 per month for a husband and wife towards nursing home expense or $1344 for assisted living
- Contact the Veterans Administration for details
........ MEMBER BENEFITS & DISCOUNTS ........
All of the below offer a discount/benefit to you because of your membership.
SEE THEIR AD ON OUR SPONSOR PAGE FOR DETAILS
STONE DENTAL & DENTISTRY
You have a dental discount available via their ad on our Sponsor Page.
EDWARD DUNN .. ATTORNEY-at-LAW
He is offering his legal services, at a discount to our members. More information & link on our Sponsor Page.
DENTAL NETWORKS CARD PROGRAM
This dental network is now available to you. More information on their Sponsor Page ad.
ESCAPE TO THE HEART OF THE POCONO's
Your membership gives you this travel discount. Visit their site via our Sponsor Page
NATIONAL INCOME LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
You have a free $4,000 A.D.&D. Benefit plus additional benefits available. See their Sponsor Page ad.