Jan 13, 2008 By Jennifer Harr 3 min read

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) will meet Thursday to discuss several topics affecting retirees, including changes to health-care benefits and the lack of cost-of-living raises. Glenn Fullem, a retired state Department of Transportation employee and president of the local AFSCME council, said the changes could affect the out-of-pocket expenses for retirees.

The increases come in the form of higher prescription drug co-pays, and a change in the health-care coverage that puts the coverage in the hands of for-profit insurance companies, Fullem said.

“The most vulnerable people in this country are those over 65. This is a sick thing to do that to them,” Fullem said.

Private insurance companies will be taking over health care, Fullem said, and because they are for-profit companies, he expressed concern that claims may be denied to keep making a profit.

“Gov. Rendell, in all of his pomposity, has told the retirees that in April you’re going into this system,” Fullem said.

Rendell announced the change in September, and officials have indicated the changes should save more than $94 million annually, according to a press release.

Fullem said the matter should have been discussed with the retirees who will be affected, but was not.

Another result of the legislation will be co-pay increases on prescriptions, Fullem said.

Also to be discussed at the meeting will be spousal benefits. Spouses covered under a retiree’s health insurance lose that insurance when the retiree dies.

Now, surviving spouses have to purchase their health care, though in the past they continued to have state coverage.

Fullem said that Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) also will be discussed.

Fullem said state, county and municipal retirees have not had a COLA in seven years. Those adjustments are generally small percentages meant to keep people on par with the cost of living.

But, said Fullem, seven years of no adjustments adds up.

Fullem said that all state, county or municipal retirees and their spouses are welcome to attend the meeting, even if they are not members of AFSCME.

All of the changes are the result of 2003 legislation that went through Congress and was signed into law by the president. It affects all states.

Fullem said that locally AFSCME represents about 12,000 former state, county or municipal employees and their spouses.

Fullem said he hopes to have between 200 and 300 people at the meeting, which will be held at 1 p.m. at the AMVETS in Hopwood.

“We just want to be able to keep what we left with,” he said.

Fullem said state Rep. Debrah Kula, D-North Union Township, and Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-South Union Township; state Sen. Rich Kasunic, D-Dunbar; and former state Sen. J. William Lincoln are slated to attend the meeting. Additionally, Dan Mazus, president of the AFSCME state retirees Chapter 13 will speak.

State Rep. Peter J. Daley, D-California, implored the governor on Friday to postpone changes in the retirement benefits.