State Employee Resources & Updates
This section is intended as a guide for our state employee members regarding health and pension benefits negotiated through the State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC), of which Council 4 is a member.
Scroll down to Additional Resources for key links to the latest information.
May 2013: Missing HEP Payments in May 3 Paycheck
HEP $100 chronic condition bonus payments will be in the paycheck dated May 3rd for those who were eligible and did not receive their payments. The Office of the State Comptroller is correcting omissions made in the first round of payments.
March 2013: HEP Update for Eligible Workers Who Did Not Receive Bonus Payment
We've been contacted by union members who had chronic conditions and were HEP-compliant did not receive their $100 payments. According to the Comptroller's Office, the delay is due to an upgrading of the CORE-CT system and a lack of staff and could take weeks to resolve.
Council 4 Executive Director Sal Luciano will raise the issue at the upcoming Health Care Cost Containment Committee meeting in April. We want to know when the problems are going to be resolved and make sure members are notified when they can receive their payment if they are indeed eligible.
March 2013: Pre-55 Retirement Settlement
Under the terms of an agreement that resulted from a SEBAC grievance, state workers who, on 9/1/11, had 25 years of service, were under 55 years of age and wanted to retire, are eligible to retire -- but may have to pay a penalty. More information:
February 2013: How to Report HEP Chronic Care Bonus Non-Payment
For those active state employees who thought they should have received a HEP Chronic Care Bonus, the Comptroller’s Office has set up process for members to report non-payment.
Employees should email osc.cthep@po.state.ct.us or call 860-702-3560 (this is a voice mail box for HEP issues). They should email or leave in the voice mailbox their name, employee ID number, phone number and indicate that they did not receive a HEP payment. Click here for more information or to read the stipulated agreement.
January 2013: HEP Bonus Payment in Feb. 22nd Paycheck
If you, or a family member on your State medical insurance, have one of the five chronic conditions and complied with the requirements of the HEP disease-management program, you’re entitled to a $100 check.
The five chronic conditions are Diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder or Asthma, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), or Coronary Artery Disease (heart disease/heart failure).
The educational component of the disease-management program was not implemented in this first year. Participation in the educational component (talking to a medical professional on the telephone about your chronic condition) will be required for future $100 payments. The insurance company will initiate the telephone conversation.
There is only one $100 payment per eligible policy holder (or household) per year.
January 2013: Comptroller's Memo for Retaining Age 60 or 62 Retirement Age
(Retirement Memo 2013-02 - SEBAC 2011 Option to Retain Normal Grandfathered Retirement Date)
If you are going to reach age 60 with 25 years of service before 6/1/22, you can retire normally. This Memo is only for people who will not attain both before 6/1/22. Click here for the form to retain grandfathered normal retirement date.
December 2012: Arbitrator Rules on Longevity Grievance
Arbitrator Roberta Golick ruled on SEBAC's grievance over longevity bonuses paid to state managers in 2011. Golick denied the grievance, noting that unionized state employees had their longevity frozen for 2 years under the SEBAC 2011 agreement, while managers had their longevity frozen forever.
"SEBAC as a collective group fared far better than did the managers with respect to [the] longevity benefit," Golick wrote in her award.
November 2012: Stipulated Agreement Concerning "Late" Removal of Dependents
A state employee's divorce may end a former spouse's eligibility for family medical coverage. A penalty may have to be paid if the spouse is not promptly removed from the state's health insurance plan. Click here for the stipulated agreement.
November 2012: Longevity Grievance Hearing in December
The State Employee Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) grievance on management receiving a longevity payment in October 2011, when unionized employees did not, will be heard by Arbitrator Roberta Golick on Dec. 13, 2012. Assuming that one day of hearings will be sufficient, SEBAC should have a decision in the first quarter of 2013.
October 2012: Unofficial Retirement Calculator
If you cannot retire "normally" before 7/1/22, use the unofficial calculator to find out what percentage of your salary you'll have to pay from 7/1/13 until your retirement to maintain your current normal retirement age of 60 or 62, depending upon your years of service.
For the definition of normal retirement, consult the booklet for your retirement tier available through your human resources department.
Beginning July 1, 2022 the normal retirement age becomes 63 or 65 depending upon your years of service.
October 2012: Comptroller Memo on SEBAC Hazardous Duty Grievance
Click here to read the Comptroller's Memo regarding the SEBAC hazardous duty grievance.
Click here to read arbittrator Roberta Golick's decision on the 2009 Hazardous Duty RIP grievance filed by SEBAC, and the State's responding grievance concerning the impact of accruals for HD employees.
August 2012: Revised Vision/Dental Agreement
SEBAC and the State reached the following stipulated agreement regarding outstanding vision and dental issues:
In-Network Dentists Must be Used for Free Dental Cleanings. However, those members in United Health Care's enhanced dental plan who used out-of-network dentists for one or two cleanings before 7/1/12 can receive full reimbursement or arrange payment in full.
Reimbursement of Co-Pay for Eye Exams. One eye exam every two years is required by the Health Enhancement Plan. If you paid the co-pay for your first eye exam since 10/1/11 your provider will be directed to reimburse you.
July 2012: HEP Compliance Update:
The overwhelming majority of participants in the Health Enhancement Program (HEP) -- more than 99 percent -- have complied with preventative screening requirements that will likely save the state significant long-term dollars, as well as lives, according to an announcement by Comptroller Kevin Lembo.
The Comptroller’s Office reported that only 501 employees and spouses were not compliant with the new HEP requirements as of June 28, 2012. Approximately 53,000 state employees and new retirees are enrolled in the program.
The areas of largest non-compliance were dental cleanings, followed by cholesterol screenings and then wellness physicals.
For Council 4 bargaining units, the following number of members were deemed non-compliant:
- NP-3 Clerical: 30
- NP-4 Corrections: 23
- Local 749 Judicial: 13
- P-2 Human and Social Services: 17
- Local 2836 SUOAF: 4
Those union members who are non-compliant will be given an opportunity to enroll in HEP through the Comptroller's Office.
Earlier this year, Comptroller Lembo announced the costs for state employee health care next year will go up 0%.
May 2012: Agreement Reduces Retiree Health Liability by $13 billion
The 2011 agreement between SEBAC and the State has reduced by approximately $13 billion the state’s future unfunded state employee and retiree health care liabilities, according to a finalized actuarial report. Click here for the news.
May 2012: Open Enrollment Reminder
Open enrollment for health care begins May 1 and runs through May 31, 202. Please click the following related links to help guide your decision.
For Active Members:
For Retirees:
