Public Education Employees and Retirees – CONTACT GOVERNOR ABBOTT NOW! CALL FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO QUENCH OUR THIRST!

 

            I retired in 2013 and have never had a COLA.  I’m not talking about the soft drink. In the eight years I have been retired, I have never received a Cost-Of-Living Adjustment (COLA) to my pension to help offset the cost of inflation.

            Before I go further, for those who don’t know, the retirement system for public-education employees is called TRS or the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. ALERT! This acronym is a misnomer because TRS isn’t only for retired teachers in our state. Rather, TRS is the retirement system for our bus drivers, secretaries, cafeteria staff, librarians, counselors, maintenance staff, school nurses and social workers, classroom aides, administrators, and all other public-education employees.

            In case you haven’t seen this, you may want to know how much current TRS retirees earn each month in the pension system we paid into throughout our careers:

 

SOURCE: A Great Value for All Texans, TRS, February 2021

               Look at this carefully. Nearly 31 percent of TRS members earn a pension between $1 and $1000 per month.

            Now let’s return to the COLA. As I mentioned earlier, I have not received a single COLA in the eight years I have been retired.  But imagine this! The Texas Legislature has not provided a COLA to any public-education retirees who have retired since September 1, 2004. 

            That is not a typo.  Since 2004. That’s 17 years without a COLA.  Let’s compare that to Social Security.

 

            Did you know the vast majority of retired public-education employees in Texas will not earn Social Security because—through no fault of our own—we do not pay into it while working in the public-education system? Those of us who HAVE worked outside of education pay into Social Security, but we are severely penalized by the federal government through the WEP and the GPO. 

I must save this story for another day, but what I will share with you today is that the TRS pension is the sole retirement income for countless public-education retirees.

            FINALLY, it looked like the 87^th Texas Legislature was going to provide us with at least a “sip” after the 17-year COLA drought. But the Texas Retired Teachers’ Association’s reports that the Senate Finance Committee failed to allow public hearings on any of the COLA-related bills filed, and the House Calendars Committee allowed two critical bills—HB 3214 and HB 3507 to die a slow death. HB 3214 would have provided a six-percent COLA—capped at $100 per month--while HB 3507 would have given TRS members a one-time payment (also known as a 13^th check), with a $2400 cap.

            There should not have been any excuses.  As a result of action taken during the 2019 Legislative Session, TRS of Texas is now actuarially sound, and providing us with a COLA would not change that. This is the criteria for providing TRS members with a COLA.

            THE TIME IS NOW! RISE UP, PUBLIC-ED EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES! 

          It is important for current public-ed employees to join us in this fight because we are fighting for your future, too.

According to the TRS website, there are currently 1.6 million members. SPEAK NOW OR LIVE COLA-LESS FOR AT LEAST TWO MORE YEARS!  That’s when the Texas Legislature reconvenes.  2023.

            We allowed them to strip us of our affordable health insurance in 2017, which was still FAR inferior to THEIRS.

            Are we going to allow them to do this, too, or are we going to CALL/TWEET GOVERNOR ABBOTT? Only he can call a Special Session. Let us make it clear, we want him to do so and to include a COLA for TRS members on the Session’s agenda.

            Start tweeting him @GregAbbott_TX NOW and start calling his office (512-463-2000) Monday! Let him know 17 years without a COLA is SHAMEFUL!

            Remind Gov. Abbott that TRS retirees devoted our lives to the children of this state, and WE’RE THIRSTY! We NEED a COLA!

Chris Ardis retired in May of 2013 following a 29-year teaching career. She now works as a freelance writer and editor and is committed to education, educators, and students. Chris can be reached at cardis1022@aol.com. (Photo by Linda Blackwell, McAllen.)

The Life of a Retired Educator in Texas

Dear Governor Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and the Texas Legislature,

WARNING!  What I am about to share with you is very personal and extremely difficult for me to discuss; however, this needs to be said.

            I suffer from anxiety. 

            It is actually one of the reasons I decided to retire.  The anxiety over things I could no longer control at work--relentless meetings, class sizes, loads of paperwork, lack of funding for even the basics in my classroom (my entire budget for my final year of teaching was approximately $67.  Yes, $67)—became overwhelming.  I would have worked 35-40 years if it was just about TEACHING because I miss my students to this day, but “teaching” is definitely no longer about teaching. 

            So back to anxiety.  I experienced a dramatic decrease in anxiety when I retired.  However, over the past year, it has been building, and recently, that overwhelming feeling of anxiety has been coursing through my body.  Anyone who suffers from anxiety will tell you it is not just mental.  It is definitely physiological, as well.

            At least 10 years ago, I was given a prescription for a generic anti-anxiety medication.  I didn't need it every day, but at those times when I felt anxiety creeping in, it made a BIG difference.  I have carried that same bottle with me all this time. (You are probably thinking it was expired and no longer good, but I assure you, that little 0.5 mg pill could "stop the coursing.")  This week, when I reached in my purse for it, knowing I still had 2-3 left, I discovered the bottle had opened in my purse, and because they are so small, they were crushed. 

            But the pathetic, shameful insurance you--Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and the 2017 Texas Legislature--gave all retired educators under 65 in Texas starting January 1, 2018, prefers for us to "visit" a virtual doctor through Teladoc rather than our own doctor.  I signed on Thursday to renew my prescription.  Well, sorry, the Teladoc doctor was unable to write a new prescription for me.  Guess what THAT did to my anxiety?

            You may be asking why I didn’t just call my family doctor here in McAllen and go for an office visit.  First of all, I don’t think I have seen her since our healthcare nightmare began, and let me tell you why.  Thanks to YOUR legislation in 2017, as of January 1, 2018, my deductible went from $400 to $1500.  As if that were not bad enough, I have to pay 100 PERCENT OUT OF POCKET—NO COPAY--until I reach that $1500, as if you know so many retired educators (and I include in this our bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, classroom aides, counselors, nurses, librarians, cafeteria staff, interpreters, and administrators who are all in the same boat) with $1500 readily accessible. For those of my retired colleagues under 65 whose spouse is on their insurance plan, they have to reach a $3000 deductible—not $1500 per person but $3000 total, OUT OF POCKET, before their insurance will pay a penny.  All of this thanks to you, Governor, Lt. Governor, and all members of the 2017 Texas Legislature who put this into motion and 2019 legislators who did not fix it.

            Meanwhile, all other retired state employees—including our retired legislators—are covered under a different plan that has a $0 deductible for medical care and a $50 deductible for prescriptions.  The difference between $0 and $1500 is $1500, and the difference between $50 and $1500 is $1450 OUT OF POCKET!  Oh, and they also have a $0 monthly premium.  Mine is $200 per month for pathetic insurance.  What does this say about equity in the State of Texas?           Back to why I haven’t gone to my own doctor, despite my rising level of anxiety.  For a year and a half now, I have avoided doctors as much as I can because of the out-of-pocket expense.  Nevertheless, this is what I am faced with at this moment:

• Annual mammogram I cannot miss because my sister passed away from breast and lung cancer at the age of 50.  $615.98 – Negotiated to $277.19.  Paid by Aetna as it is preventive , but my surgeon had to make it a screening mammogram rather than a preferred diagnostic exam because a diagnostic mammogram is not covered.
• Required annual thyroid sonogram because of multiple nodules – Cost for only the sonogram:  $981.72.  Aetna negotiated discount: $539.95.  MY 100-PERCENT OUT-OF-POCKET RESPONSIBILITY:  $441.77
• Radiologist bill for thyroid sonogram:  Not yet received, but 100 PERCENT MY RESPONSIBILITY. 
• Follow up with surgeon to discuss thyroid sonogram results:  $73.34--MY 100-PERCENT OUT-OF-POCKET RESPONSIBILITY
• Dermatologist to check growth.  $65.14—MY 100-PERCENT OUT-OF-POCKET RESPONSIBILITY.  In-office procedure to remove the growth is scheduled for next week:  MY 100-PERCENT OUT-OF-POCKET RESPONSIBILITY.

           

            Then, yesterday, I received The Pulse, the TRS newsletter.  The top story?  “NEW:  TRS-Care Standard Will Offer Virtual Mental Health Services Starting Sept. 1, 2019.”  So I clicked on the link.  Please forgive me if disbelief and disgust immediately followed my initial feelings of hope.  The site reads: “Visits with Teladoc Mental Health providers are only available through video conference via a computer, smart phone or tablet”—because God forbid a retired educator in Texas should get any necessary help face-to-face.  And if that wasn’t enough, this came after:

• Initial Psychiatry Session                                                        $185
• Follow Up Psychiatry Session                                                $ 95
• Therapy Session with Licensed Psychologist or Therapist     $ 85

OUT OF POCKET, of course!!!! But what “great” news. (Can you hear my sarcasm?)--all costs go toward my deductible!

           

            They should have added:

• A simple refill of my anxiety medication                               N/A – SUFFER, TEXAS                                                                                                        RETIRED EDUCATORS!

             And suffering is what I am doing right now as I contemplate crossing the border to Mexico to get the medications there, something I have never done, but…

            Do you know what the irony in all of this is, Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and Texas legislators?  I feel quite certain there is a dramatic rise in the need for mental-health services and prescriptions for retired educators in Texas because of what YOU did to TRS-Care and to retired educators across the state.

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)

Shame on You, Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and Texas Legislature

             Every day—and I do mean every day—since January 1, I have felt a heaviness in the pit of my stomach.  Every day, I know I am going to hear another story about what has befallen my fellow retired Texas public school employees courtesy of Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and the Texas Legislature. 

            As many of you may have heard, during the 2017 Legislative Session, these elected officials decided to turn our healthcare world upside down, despite the fact that we retired under the promise of affordable healthcare, a promise made to us years ago when we began teaching and again when we completed all of the paperwork for retirement.  Instead, Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and the Texas Legislature voted to appropriate DOUBLE the amount of money for retirees in the state’s other retirement system, ERS, that they did for our retirement system, TRS, despite the fact that they have HALF the number of participants. ERS handles pensions and healthcare for all other state employees.  It is no coincidence that retired legislators are members of ERS when they retire at age 50 with a mere 12 years in office or at age 60 with a mere eight years.  Meanwhile, TRS, also controlled by the Texas Legislature, handles pensions and healthcare for me and all of my fellow retired public school employees—teachers, custodians, bus drivers, administrators, cafeteria workers, counselors, librarians, maintenance workers, secretaries, diagnosticians, and classroom aides (and anyone else who worked in our public school system). 

            Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and the Texas Legislature also increased our deductible from $400 to $1500.  Now, not one penny of the medical costs or prescriptions (except a list of standard, generic drugs) for TRS retirees under 65 is paid until we pay the ENTIRE $1500 out of pocket.  Think no co-pay.  For retired public school employees who include their spouse on their insurance, their deductible is $3000.  For them, the plan does not pay a single penny until they reach the entire $3000, not $1500 for each of them.

            Meanwhile, in ERS Land, all other state employees (and retired legislators) not only have 100 percent of their premium paid for by the state, but they also have no deductible.  No, as in zero.  That means while we are paying 100 percent of our healthcare costs and prescription costs out of pocket until we reach $1500 (then, we have an 80/20 split), they have no deductible to meet.  No, as in zero.

            One of the stories I heard last week was about Chuck and Leslie.  Leslie retired from Northside ISD in San Antonio in 2014.  January 1, their premium increased from $140 to $689.  This $689 is 23.5 percent of Nancy’s gross monthly annuity.  This incredible financial burden has resulted in the couple considering dropping their health insurance.  “But we don’t want to burden other taxpayers with OUR hospital bills if we ever do get sick,” Chuck told me.  This is the choice they are facing after Leslie spent years working in our public schools.

            I also read the story of Donna, who lives in Hewitt (near Waco).  She taught in Texas public schools for 27 years, about half of those in special education and seven as a diagnostician.  She has a master’s degree.  Her monthly prescription drug costs went from $100 to $1200.  Although she has found some discount cards she is now using, the hit it has taken is painful and frightening. 

            One of my close friends in the Rio Grande Valley is a retired teacher and a single mom who receives no child support for her son, who is a freshman in college.  She told me last week she has decided she is not going to the doctor any more, despite the fact that she battles high blood pressure.  “The deductible is just too high,” she told me.

            I’m sick.  I’m sad.  I’m angry.  I’m still in disbelief.  How did this happen?  Why did this happen?  I honestly believe someone is going to die because of the decisions made by Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and several members of the Texas Legislature.

            I think what sickens and frightens me most is that the endless stories I have heard are all from teachers and administrators.  If so many of them are suffering with these changes, what are those who earned far less than us while working—which means far less than us in retirement—doing?

            SHAME ON YOU, Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and every Texas legislator who voted to cripple all of us who devoted our careers and our lives to the children of this state.  I hope all of us, our former students, and all who love us will JOIN THE MOVEMENT to BLOCK VOTE!

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.  Her columns will also be appearing regularly in the Rio Grande Guardian.  And watch for upcoming LIVE Facebook conversations on "All Things Education" on the Guardian's FB page.  (Photo by Sarina Manahan)

JOIN OUR MOVEMENT

Go to texansforpubliceducation.com 
On the home page, scroll down to "Our Ratings" to read the rationale behind the ratings for each incumbent and his/her opponent(s).

(I) Incumbents

Blue-Opponents

UNFRIENDLY

FRIENDLY

NEUTRAL

TEXAS GOVERNOR

TEXAS LT. GOVERNOR

TEXAS HOUSE

Sheet 1:  DISTRICTS  3,18, 56, 57, 103, 104, 105, 116,123, 131, 145

Dallas, Grand Prairie, Houston, Lufkin, Magnolia, San Antonio, Shepherd,  Waco 

Sheet 2:  DISTRICTS  24, 25, 40, 58, 73, 76, 83, 112, 113, 128, 138 

Angleton, Cleburne, Deerpark, Edinburg, El Paso, Fredericksburg, Friendswood, Houston, 

Lubbock, Richardson, Sunnyvale   

Sheet 3:  DISTRICTS 8, 11,  54, 82, 95, 98, 117, 147 

Corsicana, Fort Worth, Houston,  Killeen, Midland, Nacodoches, San Antonio, Southlake

Sheet 4:  DISTRICTS  7, 17, 22, 46, 72, 111, 134, 135, 136, 142 

Austin, Beaumont, Cedar Park, Dallas, Houston, Lockhart, Longview, West University Place   

Sheet 5:  DISTRICTS 2, 23, 69, 84, 99, 106, 109, 120, 148  

Canton,  DeSoto, Fort Worth, Frisco, Galveston,  Houston, Lubbock, San Antonio,

Wichita Falls

Sheet 6:  DISTRICTS 4, 5, 31,34, 41, 52, 75, 97, 119, 143

Clint, Fort Worth, Houston, Mission, Mt. Pleasant, Rio Grande City,  Robstown, 

Round Rock, San Antonio, Terrell   

Sheet 7:  DISTRICTS  12, 32, 33, 45, 48, 49, 50, 100, 127, 139

Austin, College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Dripping Spring, Houston, Rockwall  

Sheet 8:  DISTRICTS 15, 44, 61, 71, 80,  81, 88,  91, 102

Abilene, Batesville, Canadian, Dallas, Fort Worth, Odessa, Seguin, The Woodlands, Weatherford  

Sheet 9:  DISTRICTS 16, 26, 35, 38, 39, 43, 60, 67, 89, 108, 122  

Brownsville, Conroe, Dallas, Granbury, Kingsville, Mission, Parker, Plano, San Antonio, 

Sugar Land, Weslaco   

Sheet 10:  DISTRICTS 30, 36, 37, 53,74,77, 78, 107, 124, 130, 133 

Brownsville, Cypress, Dallas, Eagle Pass, El Paso,  Houston, Junction, Palmview,   

San Antonio,Victoria

Sheet 11:  DISTRICTS 9, 14, 21, 62, 63, 79, 87, 129, 144 

Amarillo, Beaumont, College Station, El Paso, Flower Mound, Houston, Marshall, Sherman  

Sheet 12:  DISTRICTS 6,  27, 42, 51, 70, 90, 110, 115, 125, 126   

Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Irving, Laredo, McKinney, Missouri City,  

San Antonio, Tyler

Sheet 13:  DISTRICTS  13, 55, 59, 65, 66, 68, 85, 86, 132

Amarillo,  Caldwell, Carrolton, Gatesville, Katy, Muenster, Plano, Temple, Wharton

Sheet 14:  DISTRICTS 29, 64, 92, 94, 121, 141, 146, 150

Arlington, Bedford, Denton, Houston, Pearland, San Antonio, Spring

Sheet 15:  DISTRICTS 1, 10,19, 20, 47, 101, 114, 118, 140, 149

Austin, Dallas, Grand Prairie, Hillister, Houston, Marble Falls, New Boston, San Antonio,  Waxahachie

Sheet 16:  DISTRICTS 137, 96, 28

Arlington, Houston, Richmond

TEXAS SENATE

Sheet 1:  DISTRICTS 7, 22, 24, 10, 25, 4, 30, 6, 2, 9, 20
Houston, Granbury, Lakeway, Colleyville, New Braunfels, Conroe, Wichita Falls, Houston, Edgewood, North Richland Hills, McAllen

Sheet 2:  DISTRICTS 16, 17, 1, 18, 27, 26, 13, 12, 3, 28, 29, 5

Dallas, Houston, Mineola, Brenham, Brownsville, San Antonio, 

Flower Mound, Jacksonville, Lubbock, El Paso, Georgetown

Sheet 3:  DISTRICTS 31, 11, 8, 19, 14, 23, 15, 21

Amarillo, Friendswood, Plano, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Houston, Laredo