Election results are now available - click here to download the election results. The open positions for the Retired Board of Directors, each for a three-year term, included treasurer, secretary and one board member each from the Metro, Panhandle and Tri-Valley districts. All of these positions take office Aug. 15, 2022.

Numbers for NSEA Delegate Assembly will be four delegates from the Capitol District, five from Metro, three from Tri-Valley, three from Elkhorn, one from Panhandle, one from Sandhills and one at large.

NEA Representative Assembly delegates will include one from the Metro and Capitol districts combined, one from the other four districts and out-of-state combined, and three at large. NSEA-Retired President Dr. De Tonack serves as a delegate to both DA and RA by virtue of the office.

Descriptions and rates of the EHA Direct Bill Plan and Educators’ Medicare Supplement are available at www.ehaplan.org/retiree-info. A webinar selected from one of this fall’s Zoom presentations is also available at this site. You may also contact BCBSNE’s Member Services Department at 800-991-5650 to ask about the Educators’ Medicare Supplement. Whenever calling, be sure to state the name of the plan for which you are calling. Additional Medicare information can be found at the website medicare.gov.

*Advantages of the Educators’ Medicare Supplement plan from BCBSNE : More than 4600 individuals have selected this plan. It has an excellent dental option which must be chosen upon initial enrollment in the plan. The rate increases for age of the participant are in age bands (65-66,67-69,70-74,75-79,80-84, 85+), rather than each age having an increase. Insurance coverage travels with you to other states, even if you choose to live there.  A plan F as well as plan G continue to be available on this supplement since it is a modified union plan rather than a public plan. The only difference between Plan F and Plan G is that Plan F covers the Medicare Part B deductible, $233 for the coming year, and Plan G does not. Insurance premiums for this Medicare supplement are again remaining the same as the previous year for each age band. The Educators’ Medicare Supplement is available to people who are sliding over from an EHA plan OR are members of NSEA-Retired, annual or lifetime.  Many participants are both.

*Cautions:  A doctor or medical care provider may accept you as a patient but may not be in the network, meaning the negotiated “allowable payments” may not be accepted.  Provider networks can especially be a challenge with some Medicare C (Advantage) plans. If Medicare Part D for prescription drugs is not entered when first entering Medicare, there is a penalty attached later when you do subscribe.  

Medicare Enrollment Reminders
If you collect Social Security at age 65, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and B.  Part A is free for most enrollees and Part B cost varies with income from AGI two years prior.  If you don’t collect Social Security, you can enroll during one of three enrollment periods:

1. Initial Enrollment Period (IEP):  This time extends from 3 months prior to the month you turn 65 (birthday month), your birthday month, up to 3 months after your birthday month (a seven-month window). This is when most individuals enroll in Medicare for the first time.
2. General Enrollment Period (GEP) which extends from January 1 through March 31.  If you did not sign up for Part A and/or Part B during the Initial Enrollment Period, you can sign up during General Enrollment.  Your coverage won’t start until July 1 of that year, and you may have to pay a higher Part A and/or Part B premium for late enrollment.  
3. Special Enrollment Period (SEP) allows for Medicare enrollment anytime during the year when certain life events occur.  Some examples of such circumstances include leaving a current employer’s sponsored health plan, relocation to a new area or your qualification for Medicaid or Extra Help changes.  

 *If you are still working at age 65 and continuing with your current insurance, you MAY still notify Medicare for the Medicare Part A but would then wait upon retirement to notify Medicare for Part B and Part D plus seeking a supplement plan.

Retirement Seminars

NSEA offers seminars on retirement planning to local associations.  There is no individual charge for the one-hour seminars which are presented by NSEA Organizational Specialists Mike Wiesen and Kristen Sedlacek and hosted by NSEA-Retired. Visit www.nsea.org/retirement to sign up for a scheduled session or to sign up to host one for your local.

CORE,  Call on Retired Educators
There are many ways retired members can continue to be of service to the profession. Several include: 

• working with student members and new educators
• making legislative contacts
• assisting at local meetings and association offices
• other

Contact NSEA-R president De Tonack at dtonack@neb.rr.com

Click here for the NSEA-Retired Bylaws

NSEA-RETIRED OFFICERS

• Dr. De Tonack, President
  dtonack@neb.rr.com

• Roger Rea, Vice President
  roger.omaha@gmail.com

• Dr. Sarah Brown, Secretary
  travelersarah116@gmail.com

• Arlene Rea, Treasurer
  arlenerea14@gmail.com

DISTRICT DIRECTORS

• Pat Etherton, Capitol
  petherton123@gmail.com
   
• Dr. Margie Nowak, Capitol
  margienowak@hotmail.com
   
• Tom Black, Elkhorn
  tomwpc6296@gmail.com

• Walta Sue Dodd, Metro
  wsdodd@aol.com
   
• Ruby Davis, Metro
  deltard4@gmail.com
   
• Joy Brown, Panhandle
  joyb1302@gmail.com
   
• Maureen Nickels, Sandhills
  earth1@rocketmail.com
   
• Jan Barnason, Tri-Valley
  jkbarnason@gmail.com

NSEA Staff

• Mike Wiesen, NSEA Liaison
  mike.wiesen@nsea.org
   
• Jason Hayes, NSEA Liaison
  jason.hayes@nsea.org
   
• Samantha Vrbka, NSEA Staff Associate
  samantha.vrbka@nsea.org

LOCAL RETIRED ORGANIZATIONS

• Platte Valley REA
• Bellevue EA Retired
• Central Panhandle REA
• Elkhorn/Sandhills EAR
• Lincoln EA Retired
• Millard EA Retired
• Omaha EA Retired