LATEST NEWS
..... LEGISLATIVE NEWS IS HERE
May 2018 meeting
UNITED POLICE & FIRE RETIREES ASSOCIATION REPORT
- UPFRA President Peter Ruszczak distributed membership cards for UPFRA
- A bill in NYS Legislature would raise the maximum salary you can earn working in public sector to $35,000
- Another bill, Veterans Supplemental would give ALL Honorably Discharged Military Veterans who retired any time prior to 5/31/2016, a supplemental pension payment of .25% per month of active duty service up to a max of 36 months or 3%.
- Our VP Steven Thompson suggested a letter be sent regarding this to Assemblyman Peter Abbate. His email: Abbatep@nyassembly.gov
OLD BUSINESS:
- Reminder that POMCO will become United Health Care effective July 1, 2018.
- Anyone having an issue with Aetna should contact Donna Briscoe at City Hall.. 315-448-8788
NEW BUSINESS:
- The Syracuse PBA annual golf tournament is Monday, June 18 @ Northern Pines Golf Course. Contact Active PBA Representative Steve Stonecypher.
- The FOP annual golf tournament will be August 13 @ Greenview Golf Course. Contact Brother Nick Dadabo for details.
- We have been sponsoring one golf hole for both tournaments @ $100.00 each and this was again approved by our Board of Directors. President Marcely asked for a motion to accept the sponsorship. All members agreed to the motion, there were no objections.
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- Active PBA member Steve Stonecypher requested to address the members. He advised the group that retired Sergeant Don Hilton is running for Oswego County Sheriff. Support for Sgt Hilton is appreciated. Fund raisers are scheduled for 5 June at the Wildhorse Pub (Oswego County) and 25 June at Swallows (Syracuse). Brother Stonecypher has tickets and further information.
GOOD & WELFARE:
President Marcely invited Brother Mike Walsh to the podium. Brother Walsh presented the “Dutch Shea Award”. This years recipient was Sergeant at Arms James Boynton. President Marcely noted that Brother Boynton has been a dedicated member of our Association. He has attended numerous funerals of Association members who have passed. He brings the American and Association flags to each funeral as well as the police uniform hat represents the rank of the member who has passed (silver or gold hat shield). Brother Boynton accepted the award and thanked the members.-
- President Marcely then invited Support Group Leader Phyllis Lorenz to the podium. Ms. Lorenz was asked to reach into a bin and draw two 3x5 cards. Each card contained a name of a college scholarship winners. The first card drawn was for Henry Burns the 4th. (Son of Henry Burns III & Grandson of Brother Henry Burns Jr.) Young Burns the 4th will be attending Nichols College. The second card drawn was for Abby Lewis. Ms. Lewis is the (Granddaughter of Brother Gordie Lane.) and will be attending Marietta College in Ohio.
MAY 31 - NOTE TO ALL FROM PHYLLIS LORENZ
- Our Survivor's Support Group had quite a day yesterday. Most of it due to you and the membership including us and communicating with us. We did have a group of five for the ballgame. Arlene Kellogg got us into a suite on the 3rd level. Had a good time. Next we met and attended Larry Gardiner's calling hours. Talked with Kate and family, and offered our support. Then the topping of the day-getting to see everyone at the dinner. It was a very nice affair with great food and good company. Please be sure to express our appreciation to the membership. It means so much to be included and acknowledged.
- 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.
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.