News
Special Meeting for Franklin County Retirees on June 14th - click here for the details
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REINSTATING LAPSED CERTIFICATES UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 - click here
FY2013 TRIP Health Plans
Four of the managed care plans that will be in place for FY2013 are known and may be elected during the Benefit Choice Period if desired. Please note, however, that these are not necessarily all of the managed care plans that will be available in the upcoming plan year. Once all of the health plan contracts have been decided for the upcoming plan year, the Benefit Choice Options booklet and the Benefit website will be updated with those options.
At this time the following health plans available for the FY2013 and will be available in the same counties as they are in the current plan year:
• Teachers' Choice Health Plan (administered by Cigna) (D3)
• BlueAdvantage HMO (CI)
• HMO Illinois (BY)
• Coventry OAP (CH)
• HealthLink OAP (CF)
To be clear, the list of health plans above are those that are known to be available for the FY2013 plan year and is not necessarily an all inclusive list of the plans that will be available. Once all of the health plans contracts are in place for FY2013, the Benefit Choice Options booklet and the Benefits website will be updated with that information. Additionally, all members will be mailed a letter telling them their health plan options and the end date by which a Benefit Choice Form must be submitted for those members electing to change their health plan election. Members will be given sufficient time to make their health plan decision and election.
TRIP BENEFIT CHOICE PERIOD FY2013
The Benefit Choice Period will begin May 1, 2012, for all benefit recipients. Even though the Benefit Choice Period will begin May 1st, an end date has not been set since the health carrier options for plan year 2013 have not yet been finalized. Once the health carrier contracts are finalized, the Benefit Choice Period end date will be announced. Benefit recipients will be given sufficient time to make an informed decision regarding their health plan election.
During the annual Benefit Choice Period, benefit recipients are allowed to make changes to their group insurance coverage, such as add dependent coverage. This year, members should delay making health plan changes until the health carrier contracts have been finalized. Once the Benefit Choice Period end date has been announced, the Benefit Choice form will need to be submitted to TRS by the announced due date. Any elected changes in coverage will be effective July 1, 2012.
During the annual Benefit Choice Period, Benefit Recipients may:
• Change health plans. Members should delay making health plan changes until the health carrier contracts have been finalized.
• Add dependent coverage if never previously enrolled.
The FY2013 Benefit Choice Options Booklet and a summary of the FY2013 benefit changes are available by clicking on the links below:
• FY2013 TRIP Benefit Choice Booklet [PDF, 3.6 MB]
• FY2013 Summary of Changes [PDF, 114KB]
All Benefit Choice changes should be made on the Benefit Choice Form available through the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) website (trs.illinois.gov). Benefit recipients should not complete a form if no changes are being made. If you are enrolling yourself or an eligible dependent for the first time during the Benefit Choice Period, please contact TRS at (800) 877-7896 for a TRIP enrollment application. All forms must be submitted to TRS for processing.
April 30, 2012
TRS held a special board meeting today to discuss previous communication by the Executive Director Dick Ingram. Bob Pinkerton, IRTA Vice President, made a statement on behalf of IRTA members. The statement can be read on the IRTA website. Mr. Pinkerton also presented to the Board a resolution which called for all external communication with entities or individuals outside of the system by all staff of the System including the Executive Director shall be reviewed by the Board prior to any communication being made.The Board did not take action on the resolution at this meeting. After much discussion many trustees of the Board gave Mr. Ingram a vote of confidence.
IRTA Vice President Bob Pinkerton's Comments from the April 30th TRS Meeting - click here
IRTA Resolution - click here
On April 11, 2012 the IRTA Executive Committee voted unanimously to ask the TRS annuitant trustees to take the steps to call for a special TRS Board of Trustees meeting to discuss the negative impact publicity surrounding Director Ingram's recent remarks on pension funding and benefits.
President Koch has called for a special board meeting to take place on April 30, 2012 at 11:00 am with the agenda item of "Communication." A representative of the IRTA will make a statement during the "Public Comment" portion of the meeting.
IRTA's written response which was sent to the media concerning the Director's comments is on the IRTA website below.
IRTA's Response to Dick Ingram's Comments (press release) - click here
A “New Reality” for TRS Funding – Acting Today to Prevent Future Insolvency
TRS is working to educate its members and the general public about a “new reality” in state government that throws the System’s long-term financial viability into serious doubt.
Teachers’ Retirement System is not proposing any changes in member benefits.
In February TRS Executive Director Dick Ingram informed the System’s Board of Trustees that TRS can no longer be confident that the General Assembly will appropriate all of the money to TRS that is required by law. The State of Illinois’ growing budget deficit and the System’s $43 billion unfunded liability is together causing this “new reality” at TRS.
If the General Assembly does not continue to provide all of the funding called for in state law, calculations done by TRS actuaries show that the System could become insolvent as soon as 2030. Preventing insolvency may include significant changes for TRS – new revenues must be generated and if they are not benefits may have to be reduced.
Significant changes in revenue for TRS pensions or a cut in the System’s benefits can only be made by the General Assembly. TRS has not suggested or proposed any plan to help solve this problem and specifically has not proposed any plan to change or reduce member benefits.
Please click here for a more detailed explanation of this financial “new reality."
TRS director: Retirees might have to take COLA cut
TRS Executive Director Dick Ingram will hold a series of “Town Hall” meetings throughout Illinois during April and May. Upcoming Town Hall Meetings: Meeting Information (PDF)
Dental and Vision insurance is available to IRTA members!
Join IRTA by clicking here. YOU MUST BE AN IRTA MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE BENEFITS.
Click here to download dental and vision forms.
We Are One Illinois Coalition
(A Coalition for Public Employees Pensions)
Fact Sheet regarding Public Pensions - click here
Find Out Why You Should Join IRTA Today! - click here
Retired educators now have the opportunity to donate just $1.00 a month to IRTAPAC through TRS pension deduction. Please click here to download the form.
Please take the time to either e-mail or write your local legislators on important pension issues that are confronting retired educators right now! Please click here to download some sample letters.
IRTA AND THE ILLINOIS PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION
In case you are unaware of it, IRTA and the Illinois Principals Association (IPA) are working together to benefit the memberships of both Associations. The agreement is very simple. Here's how it works: When an active member of IPA retires and joins IPA Retired, the membership in IPA Retired automatically includes membership in the IRTA.
IRTA and IPA have a history of working together on various issues. The IPA has always helped us to promote the IRTA Foundation grants by sending flyers and emails to its members. IRTA, on the other hand, has always provided a seminar to those IPA members who are about to retire from education.
This partnership is a win-win situation for both Associations. The IPA provides to its retired members both the benefits and the representation resulting from IRTA membership. IRTA, on the other hand, increases its membership of retired Illinois educators, as well as increases its exposure to the active IPA membership. This partnership is another positive step in our membership recruitment efforts in school districts.
If you are currently a member of IRTA but are also eligible for IPA Retired membership, please consider joining IPA Retired.
Visit the new IRTAPAC section for information, downloads, and how to make donations (online or by mail)!
Join the Social Security Fairness Movement - click here
The Social Security Fairness movement is rapidly expanding and re-igniting. The IRTA is supporting this case and the Social Security Fairness Act. Please go to the website today and see how you can help.
Legislative Resources
Illinois General Assembly website - click here
The IRTA Mission Statement and Area Map
The Illinois Retired Teachers Association is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization of retired educators. The Association serves the needs and interests of its members through advocacy, education, cooperation and socialization in a flexible organizational structure.
Click the IRTA Area Map to download a printable version.
Free One-Year IRTA Membership for 2012 Retirees
2012 retirees are now eligible to sign up for a free one-year IRTA membership. Please download the form by clicking here, fill it out, and mail to IRTA, 620 N. Walnut St., Springfield, IL 62702.
Members' Login and VoterVOICE Instructions
You may now download instructions on how to access the IRTA Members' Only web section and how to register for and access VoterVOICE.
