February 2018 eNews

2018 Retirement Board Member Election

The candidates have been determined for the 2018 State Retirement Board election and now it's time to vote! Ballots were mailed to all eligible members and retirees on February 5, 2018 and votes are due by close of business on Friday, March 16th.

All qualified members of the Massachusetts State Employees' Retirement System, are entitled to vote by ONE of these methods: online, telephone, or by mail.

The nominees below qualified as candidates for election.

Candidates for "Elected Member" of the MA State Employees' Retirement System Include:

1. David M. Guiney
   
   
2. Theresa F. McGoldrick, Esq. (Incumbent)
   
   
3. Keivon Spencer

Review the candidate information on the back of the ballot before you make your selection. You may only vote by ONE method for ONE candidate.

For more information about the candidates and voting process, please visit the Board's Election web page below:

Election Page

2017 IRS Form 1099-R Update

The 2017 Form 1099-R’s were mailed the end of January. If you did not yet receive it, call our office.

For more information about your Form 1099-R, please visit our Understanding your Form 1099-R webpage:

Understanding your Form 1099-R

For the most current news from the MSRB, follow us on Facebook!

Free File: Do Your Federal Taxes for Free

The IRS offers a free and reliable source for filing your federal income taxes called Free File.

You can get started with Free File by clicking the link below:

Free File

A Note About GIC

According to the Group Insurance Commission (GIC), on February 1, 2018, the Commission voted in favor of maintaining all current commercial insurance carriers on the GIC platform. This decision means that public employees and retirees will continue to have access to the six commercial carriers currently offered by the GIC when they select their plan during GIC’s annual open enrollment. The plans include Fallon, Harvard Pilgrim, Health New England, Neighborhood Health Plan, Tufts, and UniCare.

At its February 22nd Commission meeting, the GIC will vote on health plan product rates and premiums. GIC stated they will continue to notify their key stakeholders as to plan and rate proposals and will share plan and benefit information before the start of its Annual Open Enrollment period, which runs from Wednesday, April 4, 2018, to Wednesday, May 2, 2018.

The GIC recently announced their upcoming Health Fair Schedule which will occur during the open enrollment period.

You can view the schedule online or download it directly by clicking on the following link:

2018 GIC Health Fair Schedule

If you have questions about your GIC health and other insurance benefits or premiums, you must contact the GIC direct at 617-727-2310 and select option # 2 or visit their website. Thank you.

Is there something you would like us to communicate in an upcoming Retiree eNews Bulletin? If so, let us know!

Please e-mail your request and/or comments to MSRBCommunications@tre.state.ma.us. We look forward to hearing from you!

Did You Know?

Mass Vacation provides a consistent and updated schedule of fun events all over Massachusetts. They range from offering new places to casually dine to family style vacation spots! Fully explore what Massachusetts has to offer, you'll be surprised at what you find!

MassVacation.com

My Financial Life MA: economic empowerment for every life stage

MyFinancialLifeMA.org is a website that provides the tools and knowledge you need to achieve economic security now and in the future. Brought to you by Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, the website offers practical and clear answers to many financial questions you may have and guide you down the right path going forward. The site provides educational videos and other interactive resources, such as financial calculators.

When you have access to the right resources, you can make informed decisions that will lead to long-term economic stability.

Visit My Financial Life MA to begin exploring what the website has to offer.

Did you receive this Retiree eNews Bulletin as a forwarded e-mail from a friend? If you are a MSERS retiree and would like to receive your own monthly Retiree eNews Bulletin, send your e-mail address to us at

MSRBCommunications@tre.state.ma.us

Note: Please include your full name and either your MSRB I.D. or the last four digits of your Social Security Number, and request that we add it to our distribution list.

Have you, or are you, planning to move? If so, be sure to notify the Board of your address change! Retirees who already have summer and winter addresses on file with the Board can call us to request the address update. Otherwise, you'll need to notify the Board in writing. You can download our Change of Address form here!

Past issues of our newsletter publications can be found on our website

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