St Paul Police Retirement Association

 On October 14th, at the City UHC Medicare seminar, the Original Medicare offer that Healthpartners accepts, described here earlier and in a group email, has been denied by Mayor Melvin Carter. The City Benefits Manager, Sarah Geving, announced Mayor Carter refused the funding for that retiree option due to the possible $1.5 million increased cost. 

The City has enjoyed a surplus of Medicare retiree contract health insurance benefit dollars for decades ($550/$300 - insurance premium cost), totaling many millions of dollars. To not find this amount of money for us now is more than unfortunate. The St. Paul School Board and Ramsey County apparently set those savings aside in a post-employee benefits reserve to fund the HP fix for their Medicare retirees. The City either did not do so or is unwilling to spend those funds on its elderly, faithful employees in such a way.

We were told at the seminar that HP and UHC continue to negotiate for the 2025 UHC Medicare Advantage Plan dispute. That plan will be the sole offer for Medicare retirees next year. HP clinics, hospitals and doctors are excluded unless there is a resolution within the next month. Open enrollment will be in November. 

Read an August 4th Pioneer Press article here.

Read a September 22nd Pioneer Press article here.

Read an October 14th Pioneer Press article here.

 Hopefully, those of you on and approaching Medicare have been following the insurance coverage news here and in the media.

We and the St. Paul Veteran Firefighters Association (retired firefighters) discovered our City Medicare insurance contract expired at the end of this year. When we investigated, we found there had been no mention of it at the St. Paul Labor Management Committee on Health Insurance (LMCHI).

Management routinely discusses and negotiates with Labor all health insurance provided by contract or CBA. Or so we foolishly thought. The LMCHI is composed of representatives of all bargaining units in the City (unions) and City Benefits team members. 

We requested our representatives from the Federation (Police) and Local 21 (Fire) place a letter on the August 12 meeting of the LMCHI agenda asking what is in store for 2025 City Medicare users. Go here if you'd like to read about what we found out.

Early in July, Don Grundhauser was diagnosed with colorectal cancer with metastasis to his lungs, liver, and lymph nodes.

So, we need to show up big for Donny

The funds raised for the family here will help give access to so many big needs and the best treatment possible. Specifically, it will support traveling across the nation for special treatment. Together we can help with this and many other expenses like gas, parking, meals, medical, and others that we cannot even anticipate.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support for Donny and his family. Please use the button below to help out.

The 2024 LEOSA/Retiree Carry Reform Act (HR354 & S1462) proposes to broaden carry authority as well as allow states to reduce the qualification frequency requirement. The House bill has passed. The Senate bill was just introduced and is currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee, on which MN Senator Amy Klobuchar is seated.  Your input is always important to these politicians. Go here for more information and contact links.