Benefits of Membership

Let’s Celebrate our Two Health Insurance Wins!

Our news coming out of the Legislature recently is that Governor Mills has signed into law a measure that will increase the amount the State pays for the healthcare of qualified retired teachers and ed tech Il’s and III’s. Let’s celebrate! 

The new law will increase the amount the State pays for our retired teacher/ed tech health insurance plan for PreK-12, from 45% to 55%, something we have worked for over many years.

In November, after picket lines and a class action lawsuit by MEA affiliates, AFUM, ACSUM and UMPSA, over unilaterally changed retiree health insurance by the UMaine System, the university and MEA came to an agreement to fully restore the previous benefits with additional options. Let’s celebrate!

Together MEA and our affiliates representing retirees have improved health insurance coverage for all retirees, not just members.

So let’s get out the good word!  We know you have at least one friend who qualifies for MEA-Retired membership but doesn’t yet belong. Here’s how you can help spread the news:

• Forward this information to your friends.
• When you are together, remind people of the work MEA-Retired does on behalf of all retirees.
• Share membership materials with our potential members. https://mearetired.org/joining

Let’s build our membership so we can continue to celebrate our wins. We’re all in this together!

MEA-RETIRED offers--

• ​​The CLARION Newsletter 6 times per year
• Advocacy in the Legislature on issues of importance
• Representation on the Board of Trustees of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS)
• Information on current issues and programs
• The right to participate in a retiree's dental insurance plan.
• Recognition for leadership volunteer community service
• Liaison with MEA, NEA-Retired, AARP/NRTA, HEAR (Higher Ed) and your county retired association
• Discounts on optical and hearing aid services​​

MEA offers--

• THE MAINE EDUCATOR publication
• Legislative advocacy by staff and officers on behalf of retired educators
• A voice and vote in the MEA Representative Assembly (MEA RA)
• Representation on the MEA Board of Directors and its standing committees
• Representation on the MEA Benefits Trust which negotiates the terms of our health insurance
• Participation in special services benefits

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NEA-Retired offers--

• Membership available through monthly deductions or Lifetime Membership 
• NEAToday for NEA-Retired members, the NEA magazine
• Legislative advocacy before Congress on behalf of retired educators (including Social Security Offset)
• Opportunities to attend conferences and training
• A vote and a voice at the NEA-Retired's annual meeting and NEA RA
• ​Most services available to active members