Compare TRS of Texas and ERS of Texas - IT'S TIME TO MARCH!

The definition of “equity” from the Cambridge Dictionary:  equal treatment; fairness

As you read through the chart below, which outlines the stark differences between the two retirement systems in the State of Texas—TRS of Texas and ERS of Texas—you will undoubtedly see, quickly, there is no equity. The extreme nature of this inequity is a result of the 2017 Legislative Session.  Now, during the 2019 Legislative Session, there is talk that the 86th Texas Legislature is trying not to make our benefits worse.  That is not good enough!  We are calling for our legislators to MAKE IT RIGHT, to ROLLBACK OUR HEALTHCARE TO PRE-2018 BENEFITS (at the very least), to RESTORE OUR AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE!  Where is the EQUITY between TRS and ERS?

TRS of Texas:  Although called the “Teacher Retirement System of Texas,” it is the pension and healthcare (in retirement and, for many school districts in Texas, for current employees) system for ALL public-education employees—teachers, bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, librarians, maintenance workers, classroom aides, nurses, sign-language interpreters, administrators, etc.  (NOTE:  Those who work for TRS of Texas--who by state law are not allowed to lobby on behalf of TRS members-receive their pensions from TRS but their healthcare in retirement from ERS—so why is this not done for TRS members?)

ERS of Texas:  Employees Retirement System of Texas is the pension and healthcare system for all other state employees, some higher-education personnel, and for retired Texas legislators. 

NOTE:  All  items in bold black above and below are links.  Click on them for more information.

	TRS – Retirees under 65 AETNA for TRS-Care	ERS – Retirees under 65 HealthSelect for ERS Healthcare	TRS – Medicare-eligible (65+) HUMANA Medicare Advantage for TRS-Care	ERS – Medicare-eligible (65+) HealthSelect Medicare Advantage for ERS Healthcare
Monthly premium – member only	$200 (SOURCE)	$0 (SOURCE)	$135 (SOURCE)	$0 (SOURCE)
Monthly premium – with spouse/ family	$689 retiree and spouse $408 retiree and child(ren) $999 retiree and family (SOURCE)	$358 retiree and spouse $239.70 retiree and children $597.70 retiree and family (SOURCE)	$529 retiree and spouse $468 retiree and child(ren) $1029 retiree and family (SOURCE)	$140.92 retiree and spouse $140.92 retiree and children $281.84 retiree and family (SOURCE)
Healthcare deductible	Retiree Only: $1500 – in network $3000 – out of network Retiree must pay all of the costs from providers up to the deductible amount before this plan begins to pay, except for preventive care. Retiree with Family: $3000 – in network $6000 – out of network The overall family deductible must be met before the plan begins to pay. (SOURCE)	Retiree Only: $0 – in network $500 – out of network Retiree with Family: $0 – in network $1,500 – out of network (SOURCE)	Deductible:  $500 Co-Pays Only After Meeting Deductible: Primary Care Physician Visit: $5* Outpatient Hospital Stay: $250* Specialist Visit: $10* Total Inpatient Hospital Stay: $500* Co-Pays Before Meeting Deductible Urgent Care: $35 Emergency Room: $65 Preventive care benefits are covered at 100%. (SOURCE)	Deductible: $0 $0 for doctor’s office visits, specialty physician’s office visits, diagnostic lab services, allergy injections, routine eye exam, etc. (SOURCE)
Prescription deductible	$1500 (Healthcare and prescriptions together) except for a list of standard, generic drugs (SOURCE)	$50 per person (SOURCE)	No deductible Copays based on whether the prescription is generic, preferred brand, or non-preferred brand (SOURCE) No coverage gap or donut hole. (SOURCE)	$50 deductible Copays based on short-term or long-term medications with three tiers in each group. (SOURCE)
Dental coverage	Not covered (SOURCE)	State of Texas Dental Discount Plan Retiree: $2.25 per month Retiree and spouse:  $4.50 Retiree and children:  $5.40 Retiree and family:  $7.65 (Two other plans available for ERS retirees under 65) (SOURCE)		Same as ERS Retirees under 65, with this exception:  One other plan available besides State of Texas Dental Discount Plan (SOURCE)
Vision coverage	Not covered (SOURCE)	State of Texas Vision Retiree:  $6.02 per month Retiree and spouse:  $12.04 Retiree and children:  $12.94 Retiree and family: $18.96 (SOURCE)		Same as ERS Retirees under 65 (SOURCE)
Retirement Eligibility	1.  At least 10 years of service credit in TRS. (May include up to five years of military service.) AND 2. Must meet Rule of 80 (sum of age and years of service credit in TRS equals or exceeds 80 -OR- 30 or more years of service credit in TRS (including purchased service). (SOURCE)	To be eligible to retire: ERS member’s service credit must be established (not withdrawn) with ERS at the time of retirement, and the member must be at least age 60 with a minimum of five years of service credit. Member may retire under the Rule of 80 if years and months of service credit (at least five years) and years and months of age equal or exceed 80. (SOURCE) LEGISLATORS: At age 50 with 12 years of service or at age 60 with eight years of service. (SOURCE)	1.  At least 10 years of service credit in TRS. (May include up to five years of military service.) AND 2. Must meet Rule of 80 (sum of age and years of service credit in TRS equals or exceeds 80 -OR- 30 or more years of service credit in TRS (including purchased service). (SOURCE)	Same as ERS retirees under 65
Contribution rate	State:  6.8% TRS Member:  7.7% (SOURCE)	State:  9.5% ERS Member:  9.5% (SOURCE)	State:  6.8% TRS Member:  7.7% (SOURCE)	State:  9.5% ERS Member:  9.5% (SOURCE)
How monthly pension is calculated.	TRS uses the following formula to calculate a normal-age monthly standard annuity: 1. Average of Highest Five* Annual Salaries (based on creditable compensation) = Average Salary 2. Total Years of Service Credit x 2.3% (multiplier) = Total % 3. Total % x Average Salary = Annual Annuity 4. Annual Annuity ÷ 12 = Monthly Standard Annuity (SOURCE)	Gross monthly standard annuity is calculated by multiplying years and months of service by 2.3% per year (2.8% for 20 years or more of CPO service) and then multiplying the product of this by your average salary. The calculation of average salary includes base pay, longevity pay, Benefit Replacement Pay (BRP) and hazardous duty pay, if applicable. If hired on or after September 1, 2009, ERS uses the average of the member’s highest 48 months of salary. If hired on or after September 1, 2013, ERS uses the average of highest 60 months of salary. (SOURCE) How monthly pension is calculated for state legislators: Your monthly standard annuity is calculated by multiplying the percentage value of your months and years of retirement credit times the current state salary of a district judge. Instead of using the state salary of a district judge, your benefits may be based on your average salary (highest 36 months) as a state employee (certain eligibility factors are required). The monthly standard annuity for a member retiring from the elected class may not exceed 100% of the state salary of a district judge. The percentage value for service credit in the elected class is 2.3% per year. To determine your service percentage, see the table on page 4. Monthly retirement annuities that are calculated based on the state salary of a district judge are automatically adjusted each time judicial salaries change. While members of the elected class have the option to retire under the service retirement benefit formulas available to members of the employee class, the benefit calculations are different, and annuity increases after retirement are dependent upon legislative approval. (SOURCE) Current salary of a district judge in Texas?  $140,000 and it is being proposed during this legislative session that they receive a $21,000 raise. (SOURCE) Who decides the salary of the district judges?  THE TEXAS LEGISLATORS!	Same as TRS retirees under 65	Same as ERS retirees under 65
Cost-of-Living Increase (COLA)	The last time TRS retirees received a cost-of-living increase was in 2013. It was a 3% COLA, capped at $100 per month, and it only went to TRS retirees who retired before September 1, 2004. Any TRS member who retired after that date, 14 years ago, has NEVER received a COLA. (SOURCE)	ERS retirees have not received a COLA since 2001.  Retirees who retired after 2001 have NEVER received a COLA. (SOURCE)	Same as TRS retirees under 65	Same as ERS retirees under 65
Full-time work allowed after retirement	If you retired before January 1, 2011, as a TRS retiree, you may work, as follows, beginning at least one full month after retirement, without losing any annuity payments: • any position; • any employer; and • any amount of time. If you retired after January 1, 2011,  After the required one full, calendar-month break in service following your retirement date, you can work, as follows, without losing any annuity payments: • as a SUBSTITUTE, without any limit on the number of days (provided you do not perform any other type of work for a TRS-covered employer); • as much as ONE-HALF TIME, each month; • in a COMBINATION OF SUBSTITUTE AND WORK UNDER THE ONE-HALF TIME OR LESS EXCEPTION, provided the total number of days worked (or days that you used paid leave) in the combined positions each calendar month does not exceed one-half the number of workdays in that calendar month; • in FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT (greater than one-half time) after a 12 full, consecutive calendar-month break in service after the effective date of your retirement. (SOURCE)	If you retired from a state agency on or after May 31, 2009, a state agency cannot hire you until at least 90 days after the retirement date. (SOURCE)	Same as TRS retirees under 65.	Same as ERS retirees under 65.

TRS members and all who support us, what do you think after reading this?  I think it’s TIME TO MARCH!  PLEASE JOIN ME!

Note:  Click here for more information on MARCH TO THE CAPITOL!

Chris Ardis retired in May of 2013 following a 29-year teaching career. She now helps companies with business communications and social media and works as a sales coordinator for Tony Roma's and Macaroni Grill. Chris can be reached at cardis1022@aol.com. (Photo by Linda Blackwell, McAllen)