CSA LI RETIREES WELCOMES YOU
"Retirement is a New Chapter"
The Long Island Regional Unit of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA) Retiree Chapter is a flourishing organization with close to 400 members.
Our Unit provides up-to-date information, social opportunities, and educational trips for its members several times each year.
DON'T MISS LONG ISLAND RETIREE UNIT'S EVENTS OR THE RETIREE CHAPTER EVENTS!
GO T0 EVENTS FOR MORE INFORMATION
How do I join a Zoom meeting?
For Current Updates on the New Medicare Advantage Plan
OFFICERS
Dr. Candice Scott, Unit Leader
Renee Shulman, Assistant Unit Leader
Evita Sanabria, Treasurer
Ellen Mandel, Secretary
2023-2024
Executive Board Meetings @ 12:30 pm:
September 8 - Plainview/Old Bethpage Library
October 13 - Cancelled
November 10 - On Zoom
December 1 - On Zoom
January 12 - On Zoom
February 16 - On Zoom
March 8 - On Zoom
April 12 - On Zoom
May 10 - On Zoom
June 7 - On Zoom
2022-2023
General Membership Meetings: @ 12 Noon
October 17 - Half Hollow Hills Community Library
April 18 - Half Hollow Hills Community Library
Webmaster
Joyce E. Bush, Email: jbushcsa@gmail.com
INFORMATIONAL UPDATES & NEWSLETTERS
Vaccinations
Click here for general information on the city’s vaccination program, and click here to find vaccine sites in NYC. Please be aware, there have been technical difficulties with the registration process, the city will be addressing these issues. FREE COVID HOME TESTS - Click on this link: https://special.usps.com/testkits
Vote By Mail – In New York State
In order to vote by mail, voters must still fill out and submit an application to receive an absentee ballot.
To request an absentee ballot, you may fill out an absentee ballot application and check “temporary illness or physical disability” as the reason you are requesting an absentee ballot. You may request an absentee ballot as follows:
Applications for Absentee Ballots are available at your county board of elections. You may also download a PDF version of the New York State Absentee Ballot Application Form. Upon completion, applications must be mailed, emailed or faxed to your county board no later than the seventh day before the election or delivered in person no later than the day before the election
MEDICAL CARDS FROM EMBLEM HEALTH/GHI -- Effective July 1, 2020
Emblem Health at 212-501-4444, Blue Cross at 800-433-9592 and Express Scripts(Prescription Card) at 800-585-5786.
Health Insurance Transfer period (Open Enrollment) during the month of November
Retirees can make changes to your health benefits once every two years. For changes to be made at other times of the year, a qualifying event must occur, such as a marriage, birth, adoption, etc., or once in a lifetime. During this window, retirees may make changes to your existing health care benefits, such as transfer into any city health plan for which you are eligible, add or drop the Optional Rider, or add or drop dependent(s).
2023 Social Security Letter and IRMAA
If you collect social security or if you are eligible for Medicare, you should have received a letter from Social Security the last week of November. SAVE THIS LETTER. You are going to need it when you request your 2023 IRMAA reimbursement in 2024.
Medicare Part B Premium: Your Medicare Part B premium is divided into 2 parts: the standard amount & IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts). Everyone who is Medicare-eligible pays the same standard amount. For 2023, the standard amount is $164.90.per month, down $5.20 from $170.10 in 2022. The Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA) is a monthly surcharge that is deducted ONLY from those Medicare-eligible members whose taxable income (based on your 2021 income tax return) surpasses a certain threshold.
Payment of Medicare Part B Premium – Most Medicare members have their Part B premium electronically deducted from their Social Security Check. However, if you are NOT collecting Social Security (you may be waiting until you are old enough to receive full payment) you will receive a bill called “Notice of Medicare Premium Payment Due” (CMS-500). (From Norm Sherman)
Health Benefits Program Fall Transfer Period for Retirees – Open Enrollment - NYC Office of Labor Relations
The Fall 2023 Annual Health Benefits Program Transfer Period for retirees began November 1, 2023, and ends November 30, 2023. Health plan changes requested during the Transfer Period will be effective January 1, 2024, and the new pension deduction will begin with the retirees’ pension check in January 2024, if applicable.
Retirees who wish to make a change must complete the Health Benefits Program Retiree Application. Completed applications should be submitted to the NYC Health Benefits Program by November 30, 2023.
Proposed Changes to Medicare-Eligible Retiree Health Benefits www.csawf.org.
In early July, the Manhattan Supreme Court issued a preliminary and temporary injunction that prevents the city from moving forward with that plan at this time. As a result, all current health plans remain in effect and no retiree will be moved into the new Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO Plan
Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan Links
Visit cony.aetnamedicare.com to learn more about the Aetna’s Medicare Advantage plan or simply click here.
Finding your doctor and hospital: At the website above, click on the link that reads “Find your doctor or hospital” and then continue as a GUEST. The search tool works with zip code, specialty, and/or doctor/provider name.
Attending an Aetna webinar: At the website above, scroll all the way down to “Webinars and meetings” for a complete schedule or click here to download the Aetna pamphlet.
On the Aetna website, you will also find their list of prior authorizations and a summary of their plan, including information on prescription drugs with a lookup tool.
855-648-0389 is the direct line to Aetna for City of New York (CONY) workers only. Call that number to ask questions about:
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Doctors/providers not showing in the look-up tool
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Questions about a coverage for a specific drug or procedure
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Locations of hospitals and urgent care centers in network
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Questions about prior authorizations
Susan Barone is the Administrator of the CSA Welfare Fund. Together with Glenda Harry, Assistant Administrator and the entire Welfare Fund team they are here to serve members and are available to address all questions and concerns from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday at (212) 962-6061 or through a contact form by clicking here.
CSA Welfare Fund – Member Update – LEGAL SERVICES
The law firm Feldman Kramer & Monaco (FKM), which is free of charge to fund participants, offers several free services as well as reduced fees for common transactions such as closing on a house. A summary of the benefits provided by the plan is located here. These documents are also available on our website www.csawf.org Please call FKM at (800) 832-5182 for more information or to schedule a consultation.
EVENTS
CSA LONG ISLAND RETIREE UNIT'S ACTIVITIES 2024
CHAIR YOGA
WEDNESDAYS @ 10:00-11:00 A.M.
No Chair Yoga Jan 24 thru Feb 29, Apr 24, May 1
Join Zoom Meeting - New Link below
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85187303721?pwd=OVhHNDgyL0ZFYnY2bmVaMC8ybnUrUT09
Meeting ID: 851 8730 3721 Passcode: 444405
Wellness Wednesdays with Denise Schira
Wednesdays, January 31 - June 5th, 12 Noon - 1 pm (No Session on March 27)
Mental and physical wellness and emotional wellbeing; incorporating breathing techniques,
mindfulness practices, simple chair yoga, gentle somatic movement, music and dance
Registration link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYtd-GtqjsiGtXeoUWeMUhNHsc9EcAPAk5P
Walking Club
Mondays, March 25 - June 2024 - 10:00 AM
Group Leaders: M. Korman & J. Barnett
Location: Eisenhower Park, Lot 2
Click on the link below to join the Walking Club:
https://forms.gle/uNEtW8Daw1pDric47
General Membership Meeting
Keynote Speaker Henry Rubio, CSA President
Thursday, April 18 @ 12 Noon, Half Hollow Hills Community Library
55 Vanderbilt Parkway Dix Hills, NY 11746
Click the link below to RSVP for the meeting:
https://forms.gle/BxNR8dYsHcDia7ky9
THE SUMMIT
Monday, April 29 - The Summit at One Vanderbilt
45 E. 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017
Cost pp - $20 (member/spouse/significant other)
$40.00 (non-member) Payment must be received by April 4, 2024
We recommend pants, shorts, or tights if possible. - Wear comfortable, non-marking shoes. - Stiletto heels, work boots, cleats and certain other footwear that can damage flooring are not permitted
Tuesday, June 18 - End of Year Luncheon @ Jericho Terrace
249 Jericho Turnpike, Mineola, NY 11501
Members: $50 pp - Non-Members: $75.00 pp
THE CURRENT EVENTS GROUP IS ONGOING
Please email Morton Kugal at Mortonkugal@yahoo.com if you are interested in joining
2024 CSA Retiree Chapter Cultural and Educational Program
Click Below
TRS WORKSHOPS
(Click on the highlighted blue wording of each date below to register)
The announcements and links are posted on the TRS website and below. Program descriptions can be found at Educational Programs (trsnyc.org)
"Live Life to the Fullest"
CSA
COUNCIL OF SCHOOL SUPERVISORS AND ADMINISTRATORS
Henry Rubio – President Rosemarie Sinclair – Executive Vice President Dale Kelly – First Vice President
Retiree Chapter Officers
Gayle Lockett, Retiree Chapter Chair
Joseph Rosenberg, Executive Vice Chair
John Oricchio, Second Vice Chair
Stanley Wilson, Treasurer
Janice Imundi, Secretary
CSA News
Please click here for the Current Issue and previous Issues