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FEB 2020 meeting

UNITED POLICE & FIRE RETIREES ASSOCIATION REPORT

On May 16, 2020 the 2nd annual Policeman’s Ball for officers from across New York will beheld at the Turning Stone Casino and Resort. It's mission is to honor the heroic actions of village, town, city, county, state police, local federal officers from across New York State. More info is available at the UPFRA website.

OLD BUSINESS:

Discussion regarding members covered by Medicare and the numerous issues with OPTUM Rx… President Marcely read an email he sent to City Hall with the concerns and continued problems with our prescription coverage. President Marcely suggested that members experiencing prescription issues should “flood” City Hall with the complaints. Call: 315-448-8788. Donna Miller 315-448-8445
President Marcely reminded members that emails and correspondence generated through or to our organization is for internal use only. A recent email for our members was shared with outside groups. He asked that emails not be forwarded to outside groups.

NEW BUSINESS:

President Mike Marcely suggested that an audit of our financial books be done by a member(s). An independent review of the books is appropriate and will validate our current financial standing. Brother John Briggs has volunteered to review the books. Brother Tim Stephen agreed to assist Briggs.
PBA President Jeff Piedmonte advised that the monthly PBA meeting will be held at the Valley Legion on Thursday 27 February 2020. Twin Trees Two was unavailable due to renovations.
The St. Pat’s Parade will be discussed. The Mayor is supporting the PBA, and the issues the PBA is having with the contract. The active and retired members will gather at Benjamins on Franklin after the parade.
Sister Becky Thompson advised the group that Brother Mike Lemm has learned that Robert “Bam Bam” Lawrence is up for parole on 01 June 2020. Lawrence was convicted of killing our Brother Wallie Howard in October of 1990. Lawrence was under 17 years of age when he committed the crime, due to recent NYS law changes, Lawrence is eligible for parole. Members are encouraged to write letters to the Parole Board to help ensure that Lawrence is not given parole. Letters should be sent to the Parole Supervisor at Auburn Correctional Facility 135 State St. Auburn, NY

GOOD & WELFARE:

nothing to report

....... SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP .......

support

Phyllis Lorenz - "To help others who experience the loss of their spouse, attending calling hours, help with paperwork or anything else that may be needed. We can assist in finding painters, handymen, contractors & yard work.

You can contact Phyllis via email at phylgeorge@aol.com

AIR 1 FOUNDATION

air1

Please help keep Air 1 flying.

The Air 1 Foundation website.

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

AETNA-POMCO-PROACT

If you are under 65 yrs of age United Health Care is your insurance carrier
If you are 65 or older Aetna PPO is your health insurance carrier. Stating the PPO is important to your medical providers
Inform your medical provider to call the number on the back of your Aetna PPO card and not the providers usual Aetna number
You must notify your doctor/medical office to submit their bill to Aetna PPO & NOT Medicare.
Aetna will handle all transactions/billing/payments/coverage instead of Medicare.
You have the right to decline the Aetna Home Assessment Program Review
Some of the letters you receive from Aetna are generic Aetna items & have nothing to do with our Aetna PPO plan.
You MUST continue your current Medicare coverage & it's payment because Aetna is our contractor for Medicare.
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 or issues contact City Hall: 315.448.8788.

Covered under Part B of Medicare on the City of Syracuse Aetna Plan
..Flu shots, Diabetic testing strips (Lancets and test strips) and glucose meter. You can get both of these at the pharmacy.
..Use the Aetna 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.
..You may also receive the flu shot at the doctors office using the Aetna ID card.
Covered under Part D of Medicare on the City of Syracuse ProAct/Precise Plan
..Shingles Vaccine, Diabetes medications insulin. Please contact ProAct

HELP FOR SENIORS

For information regarding help with your heating costs, click here
Onondaga County Dept of Adult & Long Term Care.. 315.435.3355
Info regarding Caregiver Services, EISEP, HEAP, HIICAP, Community Service, Adult Protective Services, Mental Health Services, Veterans Services

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 (Aetna) 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.

NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT MUSEUM

Would you like to donate your time for a great cause and share your expertise with others?
The National Law Enforcement Museum offers several volunteer opportunities to fit your experience and your schedule. Visitor Experience Volunteers welcome visitors, provide general information about the Museum and help guests plan their journey through the exhibits. Event Volunteers help with special events, such as National Police Week and the Run for the Badge 5K. Volunteer Educators help lead high-quality, visitor-centered tours of the Museum’s collections and exhibits. Are you a current or former law enforcement officer? We have important volunteer opportunities for you, too. Law Enforcement Volunteers share their expertise with visitors and help them see what walking in the shoes of an officer is really like.
To learn more about the volunteer program, please visit the Museum's volunteer opportunities page.

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.

PROACT

..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 plan for a monthly payment.
Contact City of Syracuse at 315-448-8788 for pricing of individual or family plans.

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

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

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

stone

STONE DENTAL & DENTISTRY

You may have a dental discount available .. 315.214.0004 - 5663 E Circle Dr, Cicero

https://stonedentistry.com/

dunn

EDWARD DUNN .. ATTORNEY-at-LAW

He is offering his legal services, at a discount 315.427.5881 - 250 Harrison St, Syracuse

http://dunnrightlaw.com/blog/

NATIONAL INCOME LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

You have a free $4,000 A.D.&D. benefit available. 315.345.8425 David Scalisi