News

LATEST NEWS

...

APRIL 2019 meeting

OLD BUSINESS:

We received a thank you letter from The Samaritan Center, thanking the association for the monetary donation on behalf of deceased Brother Fred Scharoun.
Representation from the Syracuse Police and Police Retirees at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade was minimal. Issues within the Police Department (and the inclement weather) kept the numbers down.

UNITED POLICE & FIRE RETIREES ASSOCIATION REPORT

Brother Pete Ruszczak advised that there was no new information to report. President Marcely read a proposed legislation from the Police Association in Yonkers, NY. The proposal discusses retirees health insurance coverage and cost. (See the actual correspondence for details) We don’t expect any action on the proposal as it was not issued a Bill Number. Proposed legislation without a Bill Number will not be addressed in the NYS legislature.

NEW BUSINESS:

President Marcely read a notice from Mrs. Phyllis Lorenz, Survivors Group regarding burials for Veterans and their spouses. Veterans and/or their spouses who at any time have lived in Onondaga County may be buried in the Veterans Cemetery free of charge. Veterans who have prepaid for a plot at the Veterans Cemetery can be reimbursed. The phone number to call for further details is: 315-435-3217 ext. 2. Brother Mike Conroy advised the group that Brother Gordie Lane worked very hard on this issue and should be credited for his efforts.
President Marcely reminded the group that applications for student scholarships are being accepted. There will be two scholarships awarded at the May 2019 meeting. Members who have children or grandchildren attending college or trade school are welcome to apply. Members need only to fill out a 3x5 index card with member’s name, address, the student’s name, basic information and name of college or trade school they are attending.
Brother John Corbett reported that the Syracuse Police will begin a Basic Police Academy on May 21, 2019. The City PD is hiring 40 new recruits.
Police Officer Jackson SPD Community Relations Officer, was at the meeting. She brought Retired Police Identification Cards to distribute to members. The new Identification Cards include new photos of the Retiree. The photos were taken at the PSB during the Retirees Day in December 2018. Any retired member who was not present on Retirees Day are welcome to go to the SPD Human Resource Office in the PSB to have their photo taken and a new ID card issued.
Officer Jackson also welcomes any suggestions or requests for the 2019 Retirees Day. She is interested in any gift ideas or special requests any of our members might have.

GOOD & WELFARE:

Nothing to report

MARCH 2019 - THOSE STILL ON UMR(POMCO) INSURANCE

Received from Jeff Piedmonte

"Wendy Murphy (Personnel) sent out a notice that the city will be voting on changing our insurance carrier to Excellus BC/BS. Since the change to UMR many members have experienced numerous issues with the insurance. Emergency room visits are denied on a regular basis due to coding issues as well as many other issues at UMR. We hope the change back to BC/BS will be a benefit for everyone. This change will not take affect until July 1.

Lastly, within the previous six months the city paid for 792 visits to the emergency rom of which 262 were deemed to be a non-emergency. These visits cost the city on average $1,900 while a visit to urgent care costs the city $143. Well Now, formerly Five Star, has a zero co-pay for us at their urgent care facilities. Well Now even has a telemedicine line now that you can call after hours for service. If you can describe your ailment and it's something they can treat over the phone they will email in a prescription for you. This is a great benefit when you're traveling or during hours they are closed. You can look into this on the Well Now website. This location saves you money as well as the city. If the 262 people went to urgent care instead of the ER it would of saved the city $450,000. Every time we negotiate the city always requests more money from us for health insurance due to the rising costs. If we take care of the plan by properly using it the city has less of an argument for more money. If you can go to urgent care please do so. In the long run this will benefit all of us."

....... SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP .......

support

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

air1

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
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.
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.
Covered under Part D of Medicare on the City of Syracuse ProAct/Precise Plan
..Shingles Vaccine, Diabetes medications insulin. Please contact ProAct

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 Services, 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?
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.
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.

stone

STONE DENTAL & DENTISTRY

You may have a dental discount available .. 315.214.0004 - 5663 E Circle Dr, Cicero

https://stonedentistry.com/

dunn

EDWARD DUNN .. ATTORNEY-at-LAW

He is offering his legal services, at a discount 315.427.5881 - 250 Harrison St, Syracuse

http://dunnrightlaw.com/blog/

NATIONAL INCOME LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

You have a free $4,000 A.D.&D. benefit available. 315.345.8425 David Scalisi