LD 111 & LD 328 Update

Both of the above LDs were voted out of the Legislature’s Labor Committee during the First Session of the 132nd Legislature and carried over to the present Session of Maine’s Legislature. Since the LDs have fiscal notes, they are sitting on the Special Appropriations Table.

LD 111, An Act to Increase the State’s Share of Retired Teacher Health Insurance sponsored by Rep. Jan Dodge would require the State to pay 65% toward the retired educators’ monthly premium. MAR testified in support of this LD.

LD 328, An Act Requiring the State to Pay a Retired State Employee’s or Retired Teacher’s Premium for Medicare Part B Under Medicare Advantage is a bill that Rep. Dan Shagoury submitted on behalf of MAR. As you know, the Part B monthly premium increased significantly starting January 1st from $185 to $202.90. Many public service retirees were promised during their employment that when they retired their health insurance would be paid at 100%.

Please contact members on the Appropriations Committee and/or your legislator(s) to let them know that passage of both of these LDs would provide needed financial relief for public service retirees.

Contact information for the Appropriations Committee is at https://legislature.maine.gov/committee/#Committees/AFA

Thank you for assisting MAR and fellow public service retirees with these LDs.