Volume II, Edition 3 (Web Format)
On the inside
Trumble, Hall, Walbam join Board. Simard new Treasurer.
MEMBERS MAKE IMPACT IN CT, MAINE AND OHIO
Letters to lawmakers aid ARA agenda.
WILL CONGRESS PASS EFFECTIVE PENSION REFORM?
Pension reform bills sailed through the Congress late in 2005, but the Senate and House versions have substantial differences which need to be dealt with.
Every member is important!
Hard work behind the scenes important to ARA.
Alliances are key to helping retiree issues in legislative arenas.
Leaders in California, Florida & Carolinas build organization.
Feedback from members needed.
ARA Recognized by Connecticut Senate
ARA Using Its Strength to Influence Issues
When the Connecticut State Senate met Wednesday afternoon, April 5, the body allowed a “Points of Privilege” session to recognize individuals and groups in the gallery. Among those recognized was ARA Chairman John Dwyer. Senator Edith Prague told her fellow Senators about the Aetna Retirees Association and how it was formed in response to Aetna’s failure to keep promises to retirees. She also recognized the role the ARA has played in promoting legislative matters.
This bit of public recognition is indicative of new strength and new directions for ARA. While dealing with Aetna is still of primary importance, the protection of our retirement benefits may be more of a legislative than a company issue. Unless elected officials move to protect retirees, corporations will probably be tempted to continue to cut benefits to boost profits and executive pay.
That’s why the ARA has played a major role in promoting Joint Resolution No. 5 in the Connecticut General Assembly. The resolution calls on Connecticut’s two senators, five representatives and President Bush to amend ERISA (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act) and other laws to prohibit employers from reducing or eliminating pension or health insurance benefits of their retired employees.
ERISA effectively blocks states from taking action on these issues. However, the memorializing of congressional delegations is a long-standing practice and can prove to be an important link between the voice of the people, the legislature and the Federal government
Mr. Dwyer and ARA Vice President John Perra testified on behalf of Joint Resolution No. 5 before the Government Administrations and Elections Committee. On April 5, the State Senate acted on it and passed it by a vote of 34 – 1. The lone dissenting vote was cast by Judith Freedman, Republican Deputy Minority Leader from Fairfield County.
The ARA extends its thanks to the Senate for its quick, strong and bipartisan action on this resolution.
The Resolution now goes to the House. If it passes there and the Governor signs it, the state will have sent a clear message to the state congressional delegation and the president that fair treatment of retirees is an important issue in Connecticut.
Another Connecticut bill that has received ARA support is SB25, a measure that would rescind a restriction on Workers Compensation that unfairly cuts benefits for injured workers who are over age 65 and collecting Social Security. Under the present law, if a person collecting Social Security is injured on the job, the amount of Workers Compensation he or she receives is offset by that benefit. This, of course, treats Social Security as though it was some sort of welfare payment and not a benefit earned and paid for by the worker. What’s more, it clearly discriminates against older workers. This bill, too, seems to have a good chance for passage.
ARA’s
initial effort in the Connecticut legislature was on behalf of the
establishment and funding of a Department on Aging. That effort seems to
have been won. There are a few questions remaining on its structure,
staffing and budget, but the department will soon become a reality. Your
ARA believes that the new department can be an effective voice at the highest
levels of state government on behalf of retirees and senior citizens.
Senator Edith Prague has been the driving force behind this effort. John
Dwyer and John Perra both testified on behalf of the measure.
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Strengthening ARA Leadership and Board of Directors
Thomas R. Trumble who retired in 1998 after 30 years in the Aetna Employee Benefits Division has been appointed to the ARA Board of Directors. Tom spent his career in St. Louis, Dallas, Chicago and Cleveland before coming to the Home Office.
After retiring, he did consulting work for the Aetna International Department in the Pacific Rim and Canada. He also served Cigna Global in Brazil and Japan, and was employed by Sagmark Consulting/Lincoln Financial Advisors. He is currently associated with Private Capital Group in West Hartford were he makes his home.
Another new Board member is Robert Hall. Bob is an Army Air Force veteran of World War II. He graduated from Rutgers University in 1951 and went directly to Aetna where he spent 40 years in the Group/Employee Benefits Division as an actuary, in sales support and management. He makes his home in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Also joining the Board is Carl Walbam who is stepping down as Treasurer but will continue serving ARA as a Director.
Replacing Carl as Treasurer will be Lee Simard, a 25-year Aetna employee. Lee started in the Corporate Comptrollers Department, and from 1979 to 1997 he held positions in the Property & Casualty Division. He earned the CPA designation in 1969. From 1997 until 2000 he was CEO of a start-up company, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare in Boston.
Lee says that his early retirement to the coast of Maine in 2000 was a failure until the local, non-profit service agencies discovered him and put him to work.
The
directors are appointed to serve until the next annual meeting in September.
Members Make Impact In Grassroots Efforts In CT, ME & OH
ARA members in Connecticut, Maine and Ohio have been called on to contact their representatives on behalf of retiree legislation. Their response has been most encouraging.
In Ohio, the National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN), an umbrella organization of retiree associations including our own, asked us to contact Senator Mike DeWine, a member of the joint “conference committee” attempting to iron out the differences in the pension reform bills passed by the House and the Senate. NRLN volunteers monitoring the process were alarmed that Senator DeWine seemed far more concerned about the impact on corporations than the impact on retirees.
Ohio members were contacted and asked to e-mail or write Senator DeWine about these concerns. Amazingly, 11 of the 13 Ohio members did so using the automated CapWiz system developed by NRLN.
Similarly, ARA asked the constituents of State Senator Robert Farr to contact him about his opposition for Joint Resolution No. 5 which asked for protection of the health and pension benefits of retirees. No final accounting is in on this initiative, but some members did take the time to contact Senator Farr.
In Maine, ARA cooperated with Aetna to urge state legislators to defeat a provision of the Dirigo Health Insurance plan that would have unfairly impacted Aetna and other health insurers. The response there was excellent and may help Aetna to see that it may have much to gain from cooperation with its retirees.
It is well known that being contacted by constituents makes an impact on politicians. Our partnership with NRLN allows us to keep tabs on important issues at the national level and by use of the CapWiz system members with internet access can easily express their opinions to their Congressional representatives.
Likewise, ARA’s new contacts in the state legislature and the lobbying community allow us to keep tabs on issues in Connecticut. ERISA restrictions limit what states can do in protecting the rights of retirees, but there are other issues that deserve our attention. The fact that the largest portion of our current membership lives in Connecticut, and that Aetna lives here too makes the state important to ARA goals.
Data Base Manager Brian Farrell has done an outstanding job of identifying the House, State Senate and Congressional Districts of each state member. This will greatly facilitate grassroots efforts in the future.
But the most important player is you, the member. You can help your own cause greatly by contacting your representatives when issues arise.
Will Congress Pass Effective Pension Reform?
Pension reform bills sailed through the Congress late in 2005, but the Senate and House versions have substantial differences and a joint conference committee is now at work trying to find common ground for a compromise version.
ARA and our national partner, the National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN) backed the Senate version. NRLN staffers had input into the writing of it. However, that bill had language added “last minute” which appears to weaken it.
The major thrust of the bill is to demand adequate funding of pension plans so that the government is not handed major obligations without the assets to pay them if employers become insolvent. Another major concern is the protection of older workers when pension plans are converted to cash balance plans.
NRLN had played a major role in watch-dogging the resolution process. Recently, Ohio Senator Mike DeWine was seen to be showing deep concerns for the impact on corporations but a good deal less for retirees. NRLN launched a campaign to ask Ohio retirees to contact DeWine and demand fair treatment. ARA members who live in Ohio participated in this effort.
As of this writing, the resolution process is grinding on. We promise to keep you posted.
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[Note:
Memberships can also be renewed on this site on the “Membership” page.]
Join the “39ers”
ARA Members are urged to consider joining The Aetna 39ers, a retiree group of long standing dedicated to fun in retirement and keeping up with long-time friends. The group meets on the second Saturday of each month except July and August at the Aetna Home Office Auditorium. A social period begins at 9:30 with coffee, tea and pastries. That’s followed by a short business meeting and entertainment, wrapping up about 11:30.
Those
interested in joining may contact Cecile Smith, membership chairman.
Write to her at 230 Farmington Avenue, Apt. C5, Hartford, CT 06105, or call
(860) 727-1051.
When you read about ARA activities you usually hear names like John Dwyer, Bob Gilligan, Bob Quinn, Emmett McTeague and John Perra. They are out front in most ARA projects, providing talent, energy and countless hours of their time to the organization.
But there are others with names, far less familiar, who also provide their time, talents and efforts to the organization and in a real way, make it go.
For example: Brian Farrell. He is a wizard of the computer who designed our membership data base and continues to maintain it. Recently, when ARA needed to identify Connecticut members by legislative district, Brian spent hours of his time pulling together the data. He even handled important mailings from the beach in Barbados where he was vacationing.
Another computer whiz is Dick Wenner. His is the ARA web master who designed, built and maintains our valuable web site.
Dorothy Cooney resigned from the Leadership team a few months ago but continues to work hard for ARA. She handles a number of production chores including formatting most publications and mailings. Brian Farrell is the volunteer who e-mails most of these things to you. Another hard-working volunteer, Betty Rose, maintains the database when Brian is not available, and produces the mailing lists to ensure we are targeting information to the right ARA members. Betty also works with the Post Office’s online service to get things out that go by “snail mail”.
Recently, when ARA needed to follow up on membership renewals, another team sprung into action. Under the very able leadership of Leadership Team member Marilyn Wilson, the job was tackled and done quickly. Volunteers who put in time making phone calls were Barbara Caso, Michael Plouffe, Artemis Makris and Elaine McDonald.
Many members have performed valuable service by writing, phoning or e-mailing their Senators, House Representatives and State Legislators on important issues. Recent efforts in Connecticut and Maine have resulted in legislators hearing from ARA constituents. As ARA’s focus broadens we will need to do more of this. Members willing to respond will help the cause.
Commenting on the role of the volunteers, ARA Chairman John Dwyer said, “We are most fortunate to have so many willing workers who are dedicated and talented. Their work behind the scenes makes us go! Their efforts are a testament to the quality of the workers at the old Aetna.”
ARA
President Bob Gilligan seconded Dwyer’s comments and added an invitation to all
members who wish to help out. “We never have too many talented
volunteers.”
As your ARA moves into the legislative arenas at the state and Federal levels in search of greater protection for retiree benefits, it is finding many kindred spirits and friends. We are not the only group fighting for fairness for retirees, and some of the allies we are finding are much larger than we are and have been fighting the good fight for much longer.
Our initial alliance with the National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN) provides ARA with information on national matters through a well established and well respected organization.
On the state level, we have worked closely with the Connecticut office of the Alliance for Retired Americans and its energetic director Kevin Lynch. When John Dwyer and John Perra testified on behalf of Joint Resolution No. 5, Kevin Lynch joined them.
More recently, we have had discussions with the AARP to find areas of mutual concerns and interest.
We are also finding a sympathetic ear with some members of Congress. A recent meeting between John Dwyer and Art Bradbury of ARA and Congressman John Larson was very positive. When ARA testified on behalf of Joint Resolution No. 5, Congressman Rosa DeLauro sent a staff associate to the meeting,
On the Connecticut front, Senator Edith Prague, an enthusiastic fighter for the rights of the elderly, has been a very good friend to ARA. Senator Prague and Representative Kevin Ryan last year initiated the bill on protecting retirees’ rights and this year drafted and supported Joint Resolution 5, while we worked with her on such issues as the reestablishment of the Department on Aging and the Social Security offset bill (SB25).
It is important to note that none of these alliances line up perfectly with ARA objectives. Some may be friendly to the idea of national healthcare/single payer for example. ARA would oppose such a plan because of its impact on Aetna. However, where our interests do intersect, ARA is willing and ready to join forces with these and other groups to further our ends.
Aetna Retirees can be found in virtually every state in the nation. That’s why your ARA is in the process of establishing three regional organizations. The objective is to increase membership and our clout with politicians outside Connecticut. This is a pilot program that will be expanded if successful.
The three regions will be Florida, California and the Carolinas. Jim Bradley has been named Regional Manager in Florida. F. X. McLellan will lead the effort in California. J. David Nall will be our man in the Carolinas.
Jim Bradley joined Aetna in 1966 working in the Casualty Division on the SAFARI project. Then he led the agency automation department which developed, marketed and implemented GEMINI, a breakthrough product for agents. His last assignment was vice president, corporate telecommunications and consistent office. He retired in 1991 and began a second career in consulting. As a part of his work he provided consulting services to the Aetna Health and Corporate divisions. He makes his home in Port St. Lucie, Florida and Newington.
F. X. McLellan is a native of California and a graduate of Santa Clara University. He served Aetna in the Home Office Employee Benefits Division Marketing Department. Later, he ran the Western Home Office in the Bay Area. He makes his home in Alamo, California.
Dave Nall is a native of Indiana who launched his career in the Chicago area in the Life Division. He was General Agent in Chicago before coming to the Home Office to run training programs. Dave later moved to the International Department where he was a vice president. He continued his international consulting work for several years before retiring. He makes his home in Wilmington, North Carolina.
All three regional managers have tackled the job of finding and enrolling Aetna retirees in their areas. They will be working closely with Membership vice president Carl Galinsky in this effort. If you know of Aetna retirees living in California, the Carolinas or Florida – or for that matter anywhere -- please let us know so we can invite them to join ARA. We already have a good base of members in those regions with potential for more.
A strong member base also gives us the muscle to approach politicians in those states to influence legislation on retiree rights.
Volunteers Needed On Asylum Hill
Connecticut members who wish to get involved in a worthy project may wish to help revitalize homes on Asylum Hill near the Aetna Home Office.
The project will be operated by AARP, Rebuilding Together Hartford and Northside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance. Funds will be provided by The Hartford, Aetna, Mass Mutual, Webster Bank, ING and St. Francis Hospital.
On May 11, participants will work to modify ten homes on Asylum Hill. Participants will need to have some level of do-it-yourself skills.
Details may be found on the AARP web site: www.aarp.org.
Continue
Monitoring Aetna Performance
We continue to welcome feedback from members on their experience in dealing with Aetna benefit programs. Our objective in this is to help Aetna serve us more efficiently, and to be sure that retirees are getting their money’s worth.
Several members have reported slow payments in claims against the new Retiree Reimbursement Account (RRA). We have discovered that Aetna is not administering the plan on a calendar year basis which may explain some of the confusion. We have urged them to rethink this. We’d like to know of your experience with RRA.
Likewise, a number of members have complained of changes in the Medicare formulary. Aetna informs us that when they went to Medicare Part D plans they adopted the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services closed formulary. That means that some medications on the former Aetna formulary are not on the new list. However, to ease the transition, Aetna is allowing exceptions where the member is stabilized on a non-formulary drug. To achieve this, the member must go through a process where his/her doctor contacts Aetna.
A number of ARA members have asked why Aetna provided a higher amount in the RRA to those who retired before 1988. We cannot, of course, comment on Aetna’s motivations, but we see a difference and a need for greater reimbursement to the pre-1988 retirees. When the dental subsidy was withdrawn, these people were paying nothing for the benefit while the post 1988 retirees were already paying a part of their costs. Therefore, the change fell more heavily on those who retired before 1988.
Anyone
with comments on Aetna performance is urged to write or e-mail ARA and let us
know of your experience. We thank those who have already done so.
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