Editors note:  The October meeting is scheduled for October 19, 2009 at the senior’s center.

We will meet at 11:30 am with lunch and meeting to follow.   Our speaker will be Kerin Barngrover from Blue Cross/ Blue Shield.  I’m sure she will have a very interesting program for us this year.  Be sure and make your reservation when Jesse calls.

President note’s Jesse Grissom, The vote on the referendum of NARFE Dues is the largest issue in NARFE at this time. The votes are to be completed and results be in Washington, Prior to Dec. 8.

In order that all active (dues paid up) members are able to VOTE a special voter coupon is included in this newsletter.  One is also available in the August Issue of NARFE magazine, page 42.  You must have your vote into Jesse Grissom at 1309 B/ ST/ NE before November 20^th.    Those attending the November meeting may return the voting coupon at the meeting.

The Federation President, Charles Stanphill reports the Okla. Federation had 32 persons attend the Region VI seminar in Tyler Texas, in September. Special issues at this meeting were voting on the NARFE dues referendum, and Senator Tom Coburn’s July statement on the Senate floor about “No guarantee of your federal pension.”  Dale Cassel had an article about” a discussion with the Senator about the facts of which he spoke about, but did not have all the facts exactly correction as quoted.  The Tulsa World states “Democrats push for showdowns on Health care” and that “Maine’s Sen. Snowe is Key Vote on health care.

Coupon”

1.DISTRICT REPORT ROY HICKS;  After listening to our National Vice Present Joe Beaudoin and our Region VI Vice

President; Jerry Hatfield, dance around the answers to member’s questions on the single dues referendum, I am more convinced than ever that the referendum is noting more than a disguised dues increase. National recognizes that this will cost us approximately 12,000 members Folks; we cannot afford to lose membership for any reason.  Therefore, it is my recommendation that we all vote “No” and hope it does not pass.  Our state federation is in good shape financially and does need a dues increase.  If your chapter needs more money, then that should be each chapter’s choice.  Vote “no” on the referendum, please

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Chapter 0022 Muskogee for their 60th anniversary celebration September10th, We enjoyed the coffee, punch and cake and the camaraderie. ED & Pat Farris are working hard for NARFE and chapter 0022.  Congratulations to each member of chapter 0022!

The following week we attended the Region VI seminar in Tyler, Texas.  This was something of a motivation seminar.  I believe the mission was accomplished.  32 Oklahoma members were I attendance.

.2.  LEGISLATION: issue: Medicare part B penalty:  When Medicare began in 1966, Congress wanted everyone eligible to sign up for Part B so that the premium income would help pay for the program. A penalty of 10% per year was mandated for late filing to encourage people to buy part B coverage at age 65. The monthly premium in 1966 was $3.00, and the penalty for filing one year late of only 30 cents.  According to the Medicare Rights Center, there are currently more than 738,000 older and disabled Americans paying lifelong premium penalties for delayed enrollment in Part B.  In 2009, the monthly Part B premium is $96.40, and the penalty for delaying enrollment for one year is $9.64.  If  a person files 10 years late, the penalty is 100% or $96.40 per month, for a total monthly part B premium of $192.80.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: NARFE supports legislation to make the Medicare Part B delayed enrollment more reasonable.

#4NARFE hotline#685 released September 24^th.

The house passed 406-18 legislation, H.R. 3631, to protect all Medicare beneficiaries from an increase in their Part B premium in 2010 when it is almost certain there will be NO cost of living adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries and federal civilian and military retirees.  NARFE worked tirelessly behind the scenes on this legislation for the past three months. (NARFE press release at http://.narfe.org/departments/home /articles.cfm?ID=1897).

In a press statement, NARFE President Margaret L. Baptiste noted. “This bill is about equity for all Medicare beneficiaries, because without it federal, state and local government retirees who are not Social Security-eligible would have to pay the Part B rate hike in a no-COLA year, while Social Security beneficiaries would not.

Under current federal law, 72% of Medicare beneficiaries’ do not have to pay for the increase in Part B premium in any year in which they receive no Social Security COLA. However, there four groups of older Americans who are not protected by the ‘Hold harmless” provision, including over a million federal state and local government retirees who are not eligible to receive Social Security benefits.  Absent a change in law they would not only ghave to pay the higher Part B premiums without a COLA, but also absorb the costs of other Medicare beneficiaries currently “held harmless.’

The Senate Committee on Finance has spent most of this week marking-up Chairman Max Baucus; health care reform legislation.  Included among the 500+ amendments were two which would affect the Federal employees Health Benefits Program.  First, Ranking committee member, Charles Grassley, proposed that federal workers and members of Congress be required to join state-based health exchanges to purchase health insurance instead of FEHBP. The amendment approved by the committee was changed to make enrollment in the exchanges optional-Rather than mandatory-for federal employees and legislators

Second, Senator Ron Wyden may offer an amendment (“Wyden C6”) which would open the FEDBP to certain low-income non-federal civilians.  While NARFE supports access to comprehensive health care for all Americans, we insist that any Proposals to open the FEHBP must include separate risk pools, which the Wyden amendment does not contain.  For that reason NARFE opposes cost of providing coverage to enrollee.