News

LATEST NEWS

..... LEGISLATIVE NEWS IS HERE

NOTE: NEW MEETING LOCATION for all meetings... Valley American Legion, 110 Academy St, Syracuse.

Map is provided on the above Meeting Info tab.

May 31st meeting #307

UNITED POLICE & FIRE RETIREES ASSOCIATION REPORT

Brother Pete Ruszczak discussed the following topics:
.. The NYS Constitutional Convention if approved would have a major negative impact on NYS pensions.
.. The Retirees Association strongly urges to vote no on the issue.
.. Currently, the police/fire pension account is valued at 192 billion dollars.
.. Brother Ruszczak made a motion requesting $140.00 from the Retirees Association to purchase "VOTE NO" buttons

OLD BUSINESS:

..Brothers John Briggs and Sam Galvagno recently completed an audit and review of the Retirees Association bookkeeping. There were no discrepancies found in the review. The bookkeeping was accurate and without error.

NEW BUSINESS:

..The NY Women in Law Enforcement will be holding their annual conference at Greek Peak. Active Police Captain Lynette Delfavro is asking for $125.00 donation for the add book. The donation will be for ¼ of a page in the book. A motion was made to make the donation by Brother Rybak, seconded by Brother Mike Conroy. All were in favor, there were no objections.
..Brother Bill Rybak has hats for sale. The hats are printed with Syracuse Police Retirees, or CNY Police Retirees. The soft front hat cost $10.00, the hard front cost $12.00

GOOD & WELFARE:

.. President Marcely acknowledged several guests at the meeting; Chief Fowler, Deputy Chief Becky Thompson, and Ms. Sherry Owens from the State Comptrollers Office. Additionally several widows of our brothers who have passed were in attendance.
.. President Marcely also acknowledged members as well as non members for their continued support of our organization. James Galvin, VP of the NYS Retirees Association was given a plaque recognizing his efforts.
.. Terry Pensabene's was not present to receive his plaque, that was awarded to him for his support and hospitality when we held our meetings at his restaurant.
.. President Marcely asked Brother Mike Walsh to present the Dutch Shea award. Mike is Dutch’s son-in-law. This award is representative of loyalty, honesty and continued support. It exemplifies the recipients efforts in a civic organization. The award was presented to Phyllis Lorenz on behalf of her husband, our brother George who had recently passed. Mrs. Lorenz was very appreciative of the award and thanked the Association for it.
.. Mrs. Lorenz was asked to draw the two names of children or grandchildren of members of our Association. Each winner will receive $500.00 scholarship. The first name drawn was: Nicole Bergamo; Nicole is the daughter of Brother Pat Bergamo and Granddaughter of Brother Tom Bergamo. The second name drawn was: McKenzie Dillon; McKenzie is the granddaughter of Brother Bud Chanley.
.. And then it was dinner time

........ PLEASE REVIEW THE "IMPORTANT INFORMATION" section below ........

....... MEMBER BENEFITS & DISCOUNTS .......

All of the below offer a discount/benefit to you because of your membership.

See their ad on our Sponsor Page for details

tinystone

STONE DENTAL & DENTISTRY

You have a dental discount available via their ad on our Sponsor Page.

tinydunn

EDWARD DUNN .. ATTORNEY-at-LAW

He is offering his legal services, at a discount to our members. More information & link on our Sponsor Page.

tinysfcu

SYRACUSE FIRE CREDIT UNION SCHOLARSHIP

Members of their credit union are eligible for a scholarship. See their ad on our Sponsor Page

tinydentnet

DENTAL NETWORKS CARD PROGRAM

This dental network is now available to you. More information on their Sponsor Page ad.

tinygetaway

ESCAPE TO THE HEART OF THE POCONO's

Your membership gives you this travel discount. Visit their site via our Sponsor Page

NATIONAL INCOME LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

You have a free $4,000 A.D.&D. Benefit plus additional benefits available. See their Sponsor Page ad.

tinyair1

AIR 1 FOUNDATION

Please help keep Air 1 flying.

The Air 1 Foundation website.

.......... IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL RETIREES ..........

HEATING HELP FOR SENIORS

For information regarding help with your heating costs, click here

HUMANA-POMCO-PROACT

If you are under 65 yrs of age POMCO is your insurance carrier
If you are 65 or older (As of January 1, 2015), Humana PPO is your health insurance carrier
Stating the PPO is important to your medical providers because it's our specific far better Humana plan.
Inform your medical provider to call the number on the back of your Humana PPO card and not the providers usual Humana number
You must notify your doctor/medical office to submit their bill to Humana PPO & NOT Medicare.
You MUST continue your current Medicare coverage and payment because Humana is our contractor for Medicare.
Humana will handle all transactions/billing/payments/coverage instead of Medicare.
Nothing has changed regarding coverage or expense to you or the doctor you currently use.
You have the right to decline the Humana Home Assessment Program Review
Some of the letters you receive from Humana are generic Humana items & have nothing to do with our Humana PPO.
Regardless of your age, ProAct is your prescription carrier.
If you are 65 or older... ProAct will send a new card/id that you must use for your prescription coverage.
Nothing is changing regarding coverage/co-payments, pharmacy choice, etc. It's just a new card/id you must use.
If you ANY questions contact City Hall or special Humana City of Syracuse retirees line: 1-800-284-0042.

Covered under Part B of Medicare on the City of Syracuse Humana Plan
..Flu shots, Diabetic testing strips (Lancets and test strips) and glucose meter. You can get both of these at the pharmacy.
..Use the Humana ID card, which has the Member ID & Group number. Also provide BIN#610649 and PCN#03200004
..Those numbers allow the pharmacy to process the claim on the Pharmacy claim system even those are both medical benefits.
..You can also get Diabetes testing supplies mail order via Humana Pharmacy at 1-800-379-0092.
..You may also receive the flu shot at the doctors office using the Humana ID card.
Check to make sure you have the Bin#610649 & PCN#0300004 on the back of your new card that is coming soon.
Covered under Part D of Medicare on the City of Syracuse Proact/Precise Plan
..Shingles Vaccine, Diabetes medications insulin. Please contact Proact

MEDICARE (Part A & B)

SPD retirees are reminded that they MUST sign up for Medicare Part A & B when they become eligible
That is when they reach age 65 or are declared disabled by Social Security.
At that point, Medicare (Humana) becomes your primary health insurance and the City's health plan becomes secondary

MEDICARE-DRUG PRESCRIPTION PLAN (Part D)

Our advice (both the local and state organizations) is DO NOT sign up for Part D-prescription coverage at this time.
If your former employer has prescription coverage, there is NO PENALTY to sign up later. Plus, employers are encouraged by the federal government to keep their prescription coverage. They can receive up to 28% reimbursement for their expenses.

NYS SAFE ACT & RETIREES EXEMPTION

We believe it only exempts retired officers from penalty of possessing large capacity magazines and/or assault type weapons if that retired officer was required to purchase that item by his agency when he was active as a Police Officer or was issued that item by his employer and allowed to keep it upon retirement. In both cases he must register that item within 60 days of retirement. Additionally he must have served at least 5 or more years with that agency and retired in good standing. He also must continually re-qualify with that weapon as required by law.
Link to actual section of the law

PISTOL PERMIT

You are now required to recertify your pistol permit. Here is the link to NYS Troopers website to do so.

Federal Law HR#218 allows retired police officers to carry firearms across state line
IF..You have your retired ID with you AND proof that you have qualified with that type weapon within the last 12 months
Any state firearms instructor may qualify you including any that may be found on our SPONSOR page

..An important aspect of Federal Law HR218 is to remember is that it IS NOT a Concealed Carry Permit
..It is an "Affirmative Defense" to a State charge of weapons possession and that must be raised and proven by the defendant. You lose this defense if you are under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicating or hallucinatory drug or substance. If you have a Concealed Carry Permit, consuming alcohol does not invalidate the Permit, but consuming alcohol does invalidate your HR218 meaning you are subject to a State charge of weapons possession.
..New York Penal Law 265.03, is very clear; if you are convicted of this offense there is a mandatory minimum sentence of 3.5 year in prison
.."A person is guilty of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree pursuant to New York Penal Law 265.03(3) when that person possesses a loaded firearm (pistol, revolver, handgun, etc.) outside his or her home or place of business without a permit regardless of what the intent was".
..Under the laws of New York, loaded does not mean a clip in the gun or a bullet in the cylinder. If the firearm is capable of being loaded and the bullets are in the case with the gun or even in your pocket, you can still potentially be charged with this offense.

POMCO/PROACT

Below are several items but a more detailed POMCO/PROACT guide is here.
..Doctor co-pays are still $15.00 per visit for POMCO doctors. There is no co-pay for HUMANA/MEDICARE eligible retirees. Out-of-network doctors can charge you for the difference
..Maintenance drugs (those you take all the time) MUST be by mail order in 90 day supplies.
..PROACT will pay for the original fill and one refill on your prescriptions from the local pharmacy. After that point you will have to pay 100% or use PROACT.
..SOME drugs cannot be prescribed for more than 30 days. PROACT will continue to cover these.
..If your doctor is changing the dosage, that is a new prescription and can be filled at the pharmacy until the dosage is regulated

PROJECT LIFESAVER

Unique transmitter from the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office for Alzheimer's patients
Contact the OCSD at 407 S State St - Syracuse - (315)435-3044

TAX DEDUCTION FOR INSURANCE PREMIUM

If your health insurance premium is automatically taken from your NYS pension, you may deduct the premiums from the taxable portion of your tax return. You must remember to write PSO; (Public Safety Officer) on the line where you report the taxable amount of your pension. This does NOT apply to Medicare Premiums because they do not come out of your state pension nor does it apply to your state tax form because state pensions are not taxable.

SURVIVOR HEALTH INSURANCE

SPD retiree survivors may continue your health insurance POMCO/Humana plan for a monthly payment of $88 (or $248 family plan)
Contact Jim Michaels at 315-448-8788

VETERANS

If you served 90 consecutive days (or one day wartime) in the US Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines you may be entitled to receive up to $6000 per month for a husband and wife towards nursing home expense or $1344 for assisted living
Contact the Veterans Administration for details