Updates on Health Insurance Reimbursements, Pay Raise, and Voluntary Retirement Incentive
July 20, 2010
Health Insurance Co-Pay and Deductible Reimbursement
NAGE members will be receiving their first contract-negotiated GIC reimbursement in this week's paycheck. The reimbursement will cover the increased amount of GIC copays and deductibles paid in February and March as the result of the GIC benefit changes effective on February 1, 2010. Please note that the reimbursment does not cover the full amount of the co-pay or deductible, but covers the difference between the old co-pay/deductible and the new co-pay/deductible. (See the web story posted May 12 for further information about the reimbursement program the union negotiated as part of the contract.)
Fallon Community Health Plan recently completed a systems upgrade that will delay the March reimbursements for its subscribers. Accordingly, employees with coverage through Fallon will receive their March reimbursement in October with their April – June reimbursement. This information has been included in this week’s pay advice.
For up-to-date information, please go to the state Human Resources web site or call the HR hotline at (617) 878-9835.
Pay Raise Update
The 1% increase—including four days' pay retroactive to June 30, as per the contract—will be reflected in members' pay advices this Friday, July 23. The way in which salary increases are paid is based on the payroll cycle. Because June 30 fell mid-cycle, the increase was not able to be paid until the following complete pay period, which is July 4 – July 17, with paycheck receipt on July 23.
Voluntary Retirement Incentive
NAGE Units 1 and 6 have entered into a Voluntary Retirement/Voluntary Layoff Master Agreement to allow employees to take advantage of a cash incentive if they're in a position to do so. Many agencies, at their discretion, will be offering the voluntary retirement/layoff incentive; the union is urging all agencies to offer the incentive in order to prevent layoffs. If you have any interest in these incentives, please read the memorandum of agreement as soon as possible in order avoid missing deadlines.