Winter Update 2015

Leading the Way for Retirees

PROPOSED STATE OF MAINE BUDGET 2016-2017 MAR Winter Update Governor LePage has introduced his proposed The 127th will be Published Quarterly Biennial Budget to the 127th Maine Legislature. reviewing the entire budget and vote, both in February, 2015 The proposed budget covers the entire state the Maine House of Representatives and the government operations, programs and benefits. , on the items. The entire proposed Maine Association of Retirees, Inc. The breakdown of projected appropriations is: budget and the budget briefing can be viewed at 280 Maine Avenue Total Education ...... 43.7% http://www.maine.gov/budget/budgeting/ Farmingdale, ME 04344 Dept. of Health and Human Services ..... 34.8% If you are interested in contacting your Telephone: (207) 582-1960 Debt Services ...... 4.0% Representative or Senator, you can locate 1-800-535-6555 Judicial ...... 2.0% them at http://www.legislature.maine.gov. FAX (207) 582-4764 In addition to your Maine Legislator, Legislature ...... 1.0% Office Hours: Tax Expenditures ...... 1.0% nineteen of your fellow MAR members are current members of the 127th Maine 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Inland Fisheries and Wildlife ...... 1.0% Monday-Thursday Remaining State Agencies ...... 14.0% Legislature. They are: The majority of funding for State services Rep. Robert W. Alley, Sr., Beal Email: come from Sales and Use Taxes (41%), Individual Rep. Christopher W. Babbidge, Kennebunk [email protected] Income Tax (35%), Corporate Income Tax (5%) Rep. Kevin J. Battle, South Portland Web Site and Cigarette & Tobacco Tax (4%). Rep. Donna R. Doore, Augusta www.maineretirees.org MAR has reviewed the proposal and has Rep. Paul E. Gilbert, Jay summarized the portions with financial impact Rep. George W. Hogan, Old Orchard Beach MAR STAFF on Public Service Retirees into two categories: Barbara J. Van Burgel Rep. Michel A. Lajoie, Lewiston Adjustments to the Maine Tax Code and Other Executive Director Adjustments. Rep. Joyce A. Maker, Calais ADJUSTMENTS TO THE MAINE TAX CODE Rep. John L. Martin, Eagle Lake Joseph Pietroski • Reduces Individual and Corporate Income Rep. Roland D. Martin, Sinclair Township Legislative & Financial Program Tax Rates; Rep. Richard A. Pickett, East Dixfield Mgr. • Eliminates numerous Sales Tax Exemptions; Rep. Thomas H. Skolfield, Weld Diane Bailey • Increases the Sales Tax Rate; Rep. Paul A. Stearns, Guilford Office Manager • Reduces the current tax on restaurant meals Rep. Ralph L. Tucker, Brunswick from 8% to 6.5%; Maxine Gorten Senator , Topsham • Eliminates the Maine Estate Tax; Membership Coordinator • Reduces Taxes on Pensions and eliminated Senator , Waterville income taxes on (military) Veteran pensions; Senator Paul Davis, Sangerville Sally Morrissey • Phases out the Business Equipment Tax Senator , Windham Membership Assistant Rebate Program; and Senator , Caribou • Allows cities and towns to tax non-profit Louise Reed organization properties worth more than These Legislators/MAR members bios and Membership Assistant $500,000. pictures can be obtained at the MAR website: www.maineretirees.org Patty Castonguay OTHER ADJUSTMENTS As the budget items are being considered Benefits Specialist • Eliminates Municipal Revenue Sharing; at the Maine Legislature, MAR is interested in • Reduces funding to Medicaid “Drugs for the proposals you support or do not support. Muriel Blethen-temporary Maine’s Elderly” program; You can provide us your opinion by emailing Staff Assistant • Flat funds General Purpose Aid for Local us at [email protected] or call us at (207) TOTAL MAR MEMBERSHIP Schools; 582-1960. • Provides increased funding for Higher 14,921 Education (University of Maine); and Delta Dental Participants • Changes the formula for reimbursing 4,876 municipalities for General Assistance. 2 MAR Fall 2015

Bits and Pieces • Making Sense of Your Medicare Statements These can be confusing and difficult to read since the type MAR Business Office: Our normal office hours are of statement you receive about your health benefits Monday through Thursday 9:00am through 4:00pm. We depends on your Medicare coverage. It is important to are closed on all holidays. In the event of inclement weather, review these statements whenever you receive them to please check to see if MSAD 11 has been cancelled or keep track of what you may owe for your health and delayed, the MAR business office will be closed. Please call drug benefits and to protect yourself from Medicare ahead to make sure we are open before you make the trip in fraud. They contain important information about inclement weather! costs and coverage of medical care and prescription • Scheduled Office Closings Patriots Day, Monday, April drugs. Due to limited space in this edition of the 20, 2015. You will be able to leave us a message on the newsletter, MAR has placed this valuable information telephone or email. We will contact you on the next on our website at www.maineretirees.org to help you MAR business day. understand your Medicare Summary Notice. If you do • Need Help WIith Your Taxes? CA$H Maine is a not have a computer, and would like to receive a paper collaboration of ten statewide coalitions, comprised of copy or have questions about this information, please 50 non- and for-profit partners, working together to contact our office at (207)582-1960. help low- and moderate-income Mainers make the most of their money. CA$H Maine offers free tax preparation to qualified filers. CA$H Maine has multiple locations. Call 873-7700 or 1-888-392-4636 to schedule an Volunteer Opportunities appointment or to get more information. • Portland Observatory Museum Docents Program • MAR Will Be Hosting a Hall of Flags Reception for is in need of volunteers! Standing on Munjoy Hill the Legislature on April 7th This is our opportunity since 1807, the Observatory is the last marine signal to showcase the assets that MAR brings to the State Of tower in the United States, and is a National Historic Maine. Keep checking our website www.maineretirees. Landmark. Portland History Docents Class starts March org for the latest updates on items that may impact you! 5, 2015. If interested, give them a call at 207-774- • NEW Member Benefit AUGUSTA FLORIST, 118 Mt. 5561 ext. 120 and leave a voicemail. Or email Marjorie Vernon Ave., Augusta, ME 04330 - MAR members Getz, Volunteer Program Coordinator at: volunteer@ will receive 10% off cut flowers and arrangements. portlandlandmarks.org. Must show your MAR membership card at the time • SeniorsPlus in Lewiston Looking for volunteers in of purchase. This offer is not available for telephone the following areas: orders. - LunchPlus Café dining site volunteers in Lisbon, • Sam’s Club Member Benefit Change effective Lewiston, Auburn and Rumford 1/31/2015. MAR members must renew or apply for - Meals on Wheels drivers for Tuesdays Sam’s membership directly through the MAR office - Meals on Wheels distribution support Monday thru in order to get the gift card. MAR will deal directly Thursday from 7:00am to 9:30am with one representative from Sam’s Club. More details If you would like to become a volunteer or have questions, to follow on our web site, or call the MAR office for please contact Christiane Cornish, at (207)513-3707, or information. e-mail her at [email protected] • MAR’S ANNUAL MEETING. Mark the date! The • AniMeals – Meals on Wheels for Pets The AniMeals Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 27, program began about 10 years ago after learning that 2015 at the Augusta Civic Center. We are planning an some seniors did not have enough money to feed their informative/social day with lots of door prizes. There pets and were sharing their Meals on Wheels. If you will be a book exchange table again so please save those would like to donate unopened dry cat and dog food, books that you’ve read. We hope to see you there. make a financial donation or become a volunteer, • Maine Coalition on Aging Released the mid-year contact Lynda Johnson at 626-7777 or by e-mail at report on Maine Aging Initiative. Details of the report [email protected]. can be found at: http:www.mainecouncilonaging.org/ aginginitiative.php • 3DCatering Supports the Eastern Area Agency on Aging and provides Meals on Wheels in Penobscot, BJ’s Open Enrollment Piscataquis, Washington and Hancock counties. In Our BJ’s Open Enrollment begins on 03/01/2015 and ends addition to their basic fare they can also cater to your on 03/14/2015. You can choose from 2 ways to save! An specific needs as they also prepare delicious low sodium, Inner Circle Membership is available for $40.00 (a $10.00 pureed and gluten free meals. There are no income savings!) or a 2% Payback BJ’s Rewards Membership is guideline and no age requirements. Meals come in available for $80.00 (a $20.00 savings!) Both memberships packs of 5 and cost $4.00 each. Each 5 pack of meals include 3 FREE BONUS months! comes with: 5 rolls, 5 pats of butter, 5 desserts and a If you have e-mail, you can write to us to request a link to quart of 2% milk. Call the Eastern Maine Area Agency the on-line application. Our e-mail address is: [email protected]. on Aging at 1-800-432-7812. com. If you need an application mailed to you, please call 3 MAR Fall 2015 us at 582-1960 or 1-800-535-6555. Only the applications FEDERAL LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO submitted after March 1st or before March 14th will be REPEAL THE SOCIAL SECURITY WINDFALL accepted by BJ’s. ELIMINATION PROVISION H.R. 5697, Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act, has been introduced in Congress by Representative Kevin Brady of INCOME TAX PENSION DEDUCTION Texas and Representative Richard Neal of Massachusetts. The INCREASED bill, if passed, would: One of MAR’s priorities is to ensure the financial stability of • Repeal the current Windfall Elimination Provision and Public Services Retirees pension and the public services retirees’ replace it with a new formula that treats public servants ability to support themselves. This year the Governor and like the rest of American workers; the Legislature took another step forward in assisting retirees • Guarantee public servants receive the benefits they earned stretch their pension by increasing the deductible amount of your while they paid into Social Security; MePERS pension. • Reduce the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) by up For 2014 taxes, the State has increased the pension deduction, to a third for current retirees, and up to half for future which MePERS Retirees are eligible for, from $6,000 to $10,000. retirees; and If you and your spouse receive a pension, you may both deduct • Not impact the Social Security trust fund. up to $10,000 on your Maine State Income Tax return. H.R. 5697 has been referred to the House Committee on This deduction can be claimed on Maine’s Individual Tax Ways and Means. The process will include a review by the Form 1040ME on Schedule 1 (Income Modifications), Line Committee, then brought to the U.S. House of Representative for 2D. A worksheet for this deduction is generally available with a vote, if passed, presented to the U.S. Senate for a vote and if your tax forms. If you need this worksheet or have any other passed, sent to the President to be signed. questions related to this deduction, please contact the Maine Maine’s Senators and Representatives, in the past, have been Revenue Service at (207) 624-7894 or through their website at supportive of a change in the Windfall Elimination Provision. www.maine.gov/revenue. If you are interested in expressing your view, Maine’s Congressional delegation is: Representative Bruce Poliquin DELTA DENTAL PROGRAM 6 State Street, Suite 101, Bangor, Maine 04401 Our Open Enrollment was held from December 1, 2014 http://poliquin.house.gov through January 31, 2015. All plan changes took effect on (202) 225-6306 – Washington, DC or (207) 942-0583 – Maine February 1, 2015. If you missed the deadline, MAR will still Representative Chellie Pingree be able to accept applications for up to 90 days. You would be 2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 304, Portland, Maine 04101 required to pay the missed premiums back to 2/1/2015 before http://pingree.house.gov MAR can process the application. (202) 225-6116 –Washington, DC or (207) 774-5019 – Maine The rates as of February 1, 2015 are: Senator Angus King Single Person: $42.48 4 Gabriel Drive, Suite 3, Augusta, Maine 04330 Two Persons: $77.41 http://king.senate.gov Three or More Persons: $121.89 (202) 224-5344 – Washington, DC or (207) 622-8292 – Maine Delta Dental is rolling out their new Health Through Senator Susan Collins Oral Wellness (HOW) program beginning in January 2015. 25 Sweden Street, Suite A, Caribou, Maine 04736 This program provides additional benefits at no additional http://collins.senate.gov cost to at-risk patients such as greater frequency of cleanings, (202) 224-2523 – Washington, DC or (207) 493-7873 – Maine and periodontal maintenance (4 times in a 12 month period). More information is available on both maineretirees.org and For additional information on H.R. 5697 either HealthThroughOralWellness.com consult the http://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/ Also effective January 1, 2015, Northeast Delta Dental will house-bill/5697 or go to the MAR website at issue Explanation of Benefits forms (EOBs) electronically via www.maineretirees.org. our Benefit Lookup site. If you wish to view or print EOBs (as far back as six years!), you may do so securely through the site. If you prefer to continue receiving hard copies of EOBs via standard mail, you may elect to do so on the Benefit Lookup site or by calling their Eligibility Department after January 1 at 1-603-223-1230. If you have any questions, you can e-mail us at [email protected], call the MAR office at 582-1960 or 1-800-535-6555. MAR Executive committee 4 MAR Fall 2015

Wayne H. Ross, President Judy Carleton, Treasurer George Soucy, Jr., In May 2014, Wayne H. Ross Judy has been re-elected to Member at Large became President of the Maine her third term as Association George Soucy is a retiree Association of Retirees for the Treasurer. Judy is a native from the City of Augusta next two years, 2014-2016. Mainer and currently lives after 25 years of employment Wayne currently lives in South in Augusta, Maine. Her as a Code Enforcement Portland but is an Aroostook County native. career in public service began in 1970 Officer. George also worked for 8 years as He obtained an undergraduate degree in as a Secretary with Southern Kennebec a Mental Health Worker with the State of Business and Economics, and a Master’s Valley Regional Planning Commission. Maine, and has had various construction Degree in Public Administration from the For 10½ years she worked at the Maine jobs. He is the father of four children and University of Maine, Orono. He served as State Housing Authority as Executive grandfather to six grandchildren. George President of Southern Maine Community Assistant, F.A.M.E. office, and the has been happily married to his wife, June, College (SMCC) for twenty-one years. Augusta Adult & Community Education for 39 years. Prior to his appointment to SMMC, Wayne and retired in 2004. She received the Hilary Fleming, Past held several management positions with John B. Forster Award for dedication and President education and finance. commitment to students and staff and Hilary has held the position Wayne and his wife, Betsy, met at the Distinguished Service Award from the of Treasurer for the Town Orono and have two children, and three Maine Adult Education Association. Judy of Freedom and currently is grandchildren. Wayne is an avid volunteer served on Augusta’s Planning Board from active as alternate delegate to and serves on the Boards of many charitable 1974 to 1987. She also was appointed the local recycling center for Freedom. She and civic organizations. to the Augusta Sanitary District Board has held the positions of Treasurer, 1st Vice of Commissioners from 1998 to 2003. Robert E. Powers, 1st President, President, and currently is Past In her leisure time, Judy enjoys quilting, Vice-President President for MAR. Hilary worked for 13 gardening, going on day trips with her Robert Powers was raised in years in hospital nursing in Massachusetts, husband, Don, and weekend getaways Georgetown, ME, where he Colorado, and Maine with focus in the to New Hampshire and Bar Harbor with worked as a lobsterman in Emergency Department and Operating her daughter. order to pay his way through Room services. She began her career in college. He spent his entire professional Isabella Thurston, Maine State Government in 1978 and career in education as a Teacher, Principal, Secretary worked for 24 years in different positions Curriculum Director, Superintendent, and Issie retired from the within the Department of Human Services. Adjunct College Professor. He, and his Workers’ Compensation She retired from state service in 2002 and late wife, raised two children who blessed Board in October joined MAR at her retirement celebration. them with three grandchildren and four 2001 and joined MAR Shortly after retiring, she and her husband great-grandchildren. His interests include shortly thereafter. Her first volunteer Tom traveled to visit friends and family reading, golf, travel, and local government. experience was when she volunteered from Maine to Arizona, via Louisiana. in the Emergency Department at Mercy J. Timothy Leet, 2nd Vice- Barbara Van Burgel, Hospital in Portland for three years. Issie President Executive Director was then invited to be a member of the J. Timothy Leet was raised in Barbara has been with Board of the VNA Health and Hospice, Augusta, Maine and is the son MAR, starting as the Board a home health agency based in South of the late John “Jack” Leet, Secretary and becoming Portland serving families throughout who with others founded the Executive Director in Southern Maine. In 2005, she was made the Maine Association of Retirees in the the spring of 2014. Barb was raised in a Trustee of the Board of Mercy Hospital early 1980’s. He is a 1978 Graduate of Michigan and is a graduate of Michigan where she served for nine years. She is the University of Maine at Orono. He is a State University, Lansing, Michigan. She currently the Vice Chair of the Board retired state employee with 35 plus years of moved to Maine in 1976, teaching first in of VNA. Issie is from Scotland and professional job experience while working Van Buren and later in Madawaska. Her with her husband, Ron, visits family in for Maine State Government, the Maine career in State government began with Scotland and London every year. The Legislature, a private lobbying consultant the Welfare, Education & Employment trip this year was special – they sailed firm of Howe, Cahill and Company, the Training program in 1983. She moved from New York to Southampton on the Maine County Commissioners Association, to Augusta in 1986 and held a series of Queen Mary II, flagship of the Cunard and Kennebec County. He is currently management positions in the Department Line. Issie is a Past President of MAR an Administrative Coordinator for the of Health & Human Services, retiring in and currently serves as Board Secretary. Kennebec County DOJ/BJA Second Chance 2011 as Director of the Office of Family Act Reentry Program. He and his wife, Independence. Linda, reside in Farmingdale, Maine, where Barb lives on 40 acres in Mercer. She they raised two children. His interests enjoys playing cards (especially poker and include boating, community service, and cribbage), gardening, kitting, quilting and riding his motorcycle. traveling. 5 MAR Fall 2015

Perfect your searches their collaborations as a comedy team specifically. Another By Lisa Blue math tactic is to search by exclusion. Let’s say you are looking up Superman. However, you don’t want any Looking outside your window, you cannot information about Krypton or Lex Luthor. You can use the deny that winter is in full swing. While the minus sign to exclude those out for your search. Your final snow flies outside, what a perfect opportunity search query would be Superman-Krypton-“Lex Luthor”. to stay indoors, and finally sit in front of For more information about effective searches, please check your computer to look up all those things you have listed out the link below for the Google Guide. on various post-it notes stuck to the outer edges of your With these simple search tactics, you can master the computer screen! search engine, and get the exact information you are For many, doing a web search can be daunting. What looking for. So let the snow fly – you’ve got searching to do! would seem to be a simple search for something, can result in If you are interested in investigating this invisible web, thousands of results. Most of these results aren’t even close here are some sites to get you started: to what you were looking for, not to mention the questions Voice of the Shuttle: http://vos.ucsb.edu/ you find yourself asking, such as: What words should I use to HealthFinder: http://www.healthfinder.gov/ search for this? Which Search Engine should I be using? Why RxList: http://www.rxlist.com/script/main/hp.asp are there so many sites trying to sell me something? Virtual Library: http://vlib.org/ Not all search engines are equal: The first thing to Google Search Cheat Sheet: http://www.googleguide.com keep in mind is not all search engines are the same. The results Yahoo returns may not be exactly the same as what Google or Bing returns. This is due to the methods in which JANUARY 2015 AETNA MEDICARE each search engine goes out throughout the internet finding ADVANTAGE PLAN RX UPDATE FOR STATE keywords to create indexes with. So if one search engine RETIREES doesn’t give you what you’re looking for quickly, try a Prescription drug copays remain the same. However, different one. If none of these are giving you what you are State retirees must access the retail “Value Network” of looking for, you could always try the “invisible Web”. 40,000 nationwide pharmacies. This means in order to The Invisible Web: What? There’s another web? The have your prescription drugs covered by Aetna Medicare, “invisible Web” refers to the vast storehouse of information you must use a participating pharmacy within the Value that search engines do not have direct access to, like Network. Rite Aid does not participate in the Value databases. Unlike pages on the regular Web, information Network. in databases is generally inaccessible to the index methods • In the Spring of 2014, Aetna reached out to 65,000 of search engines. According to BrightPlanet, a pioneer in pharmacies nationwide to join the Value Network; deep web development, the invisible web is 500 times bigger • Some pharmacies did not respond within the required than the visible web. Considering that Google has access to time frame and others did not accept the terms and 8 billion pages, that is a staggering amount of information! conditions of the agreement declining to participate; Please see the links below to investigate what the invisible • Non-participating pharmacies may email Aetna to web has to offer. discuss becoming part of the Value Network as of 1/1/2016; Be specific in your search query: An effective search • Aetna has extended a transitional period through begins with the question asked. The more general you are, 2/28/15 for all non-Value Network pharmacies to fill the more results will be returned. The more specific you are, Rx’s. This transitional period is to allow retirees an the more you will hone in on the best results in your search. opportunity to transfer their Rx to a participating (Ex: searching for fishing vs. searching for Wooly Bugger fly pharmacy; fishing lures.) • Many of the independent pharmacies did not receive If you are looking for a specific phrase, put it in quotes. notice from their Pharmacy Service Administration Suppose you search for Winter Olympics 2014. The results Organization which means that they did not have an could return 100 results about the Winter Olympics, and 50 opportunity to respond to Aetna’s invite to join the results for 2,014 km of ski trails. To find specific information Value Network; just about the 2014 Winter Olympics, search for “Winter • Aetna is presently inviting the independent pharmacies Olympics 2014”. through an expedited process to join the Value You can also use math symbols to narrow your search Network in 2015. further. Suppose you are searching for sites about the films Specific questions about this change should be made to Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis did together. If you simply the Office of Employee Health and Benefits at 1-800-422- search for Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, you will get some 4503 or to Aetna Member Services at 1-888-267-2637. sites about Dean Martin, and some sites about Jerry Lewis. By using the “+” sign to search for “Dean Martin”+“Jerry Lewis”, you now have top results of the sites that are about NON-PROFIT U.S. Postage PAID Augusta, ME Permit No. 517 280 Maine Avenue Farmingdale, Maine 04344

Address Service Requested

From the President’s Desk Greetings to all MAR members. Maine’s are public service retirees ask them if they are a legislative session has begun and Sen. Roger Katz member of MAR. If they are not a member, invite has submitted a Resolve at MAR’s request on the them to join. MAR can provide you with some Social Security Windfall and Government Pension enrollment cards or they can simply call MAR and Offset. Also, Sen. has agreed staff will explain the enrollment process. Also, to sponsor legislation relative to the COLA being when you are frequenting Maine businesses such as stated as a benefit in State statute. Just a reminder your local florist, restaurants, craft/hobby shops, that it is important when you have concerns/issues golf facilities, etc. ask the owners/managers if they MAR Executive on proposed or enacted legislation to contact your would be interested in providing a discount to our Committee Senator and/or Representative at: members. Then just call MAR at 582-1960 or Wayne H. Ross 1-800-535-6555 and staff will contact the business President Senators 3 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0003 for you. By having existing MAR members participate in these types of activities, you will help Robert E. Powers 1-800-423-6900 or 287-1540 (TTY 287-1583) us continue to increase MAR’s membership while 1st Vice President Representatives affording yourself and new members additional 2 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0002 J. Timothy Leet benefits. 1-800-423-2900 or 287-1400 (TTY 287-4469) 2nd Vice President In conclusion, each newsletter will now contain You may also go to the Legislature’s website a Technology Corner. So, if you have questions/ Judy Carleton to get hearing dates, follow legislative bills, issues with your computer/tablet or programs on Treasurer or send emails. The website’s address is: them, including setting up various applications, Legislature.Maine.gov you can contact Lisa Blue through the MAR Isabella Thurston In regards to increasing member participation office at 207-582-1960 or at [email protected]. Secretary in our organization, we are reaching out to you Additionally, Lisa invites ideas for future articles to help us. You can assist MAR in doing this in that you believe would be beneficial. George Soucy Jr. Thank you for being a member of MAR. I hope Member-at-Large a couple of ways. For example, when you are talking to your neighbors, friends, or relatives who you have a safe and sound winter season. Hilary Fleming Past President DRIVE CAREFULLY. WEAR YOUR SEATBELT. STAY ALERT & AWARE.