Southern Region Retirees Meet

Southern Region IEAFCS Retirees and Friends met at the home of Curt & Priscilla Barnes for their September get together. As shown in the photo at left, Priscilla gave a tour of her beautiful home which features Geo-thermal heating and lots of handicap accessibility ideas. She even allowed us to have lunch there and take over her dining room for our short meeting.




                                                                                 

Those pictured are Priscilla Barnes, Rusti Grogan, Janet Burnett, Carol Schlitt, Donna Rumsey, Martha Speir, Lois Smith, and Patti Faughn. Others who attended were Shirley Prewitt, Kathy Harrison, Joyce Pyatt, and Joy Richey.

The weather was beautiful, and everyone agreed we had a very enjoyable day! It was great to catch up with many old friends.

Please send photos of your activities as they occur.

Medicare Premiums Could Increase

Medicare premiums could increase from $104.90 to $151.30 per month in 2016 for Federal Retirees covered by CSRS, but who do not draw Social Security.

Those who have their insurance premiums withheld from their Social Security checks are protected from a Medicare Premium increase if the cost of living adjustment does not go up enough to cover extra costs. There is a clause in the laws that does not allow Social Security benefits to decrease.

However, those who are excluded from receiving Social Security do not have this protection. It is not yet known if there will be a cost of living increase this year. If only the CSRS retirees (who make up 30% of the total number of beneficiaries)  have to bear the full cost of the Medicare increase, that means the 52% jump in the cost could occur. NARFE is working with legislators to keep this from happening.

The most recent issue of FYI was released on 9/11. It mentions the passing of Curt Eisenmeyer on Sept. 4th. Our condolences to his family and friends.

There is also news that the Department of Human and Community Development within  the College of ACES had been renamed The Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS).

Here is the link to FYI 9/11/15:  http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/fyi/