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September 5, 2002
Campbell government forces Municipal Pension Plan to begin charging retirees for half of their MSP premiums
Starting with this year’s October payment, all retirees who belong to the Municipal Pension Plan will begin paying half of their MSP premiums. (Members with a net income below $24,000 annually may be eligible for premium assistance.) If you are considering retirement, you should be aware of this change. The monthly rates for retirees are as follows:
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Single |
Couple |
Family |
| MSP Premiums (Per Month) |
$27.00 |
$48.00 |
$54.00 |
The MPP Board of Trustees was forced to make this change to retiree benefits as a direct consequence of provincial Liberal government policy. Changes made by Premier Campbell’s government to MSP (the Liberals have increased the MSP premium rate by 50%) and Pharmacare have resulted in a doubling of the cost of extended health care claims.
The MPP Trustees made the decision to decrease the Plan’s subsidy of MSP premiums after an extensive review of other options. For a detailed explanation of the decision, read the bulletin sent to retirees found on the BCNU web site: www.bcnu.org.
The BCNU Trustees discussed the issue with Council, and subsequently supported the Board’s decision as the best possible alternative. The current level of benefits cannot be maintained and payment of claims would cease when the Plan ran out of money. However, BCNU is concerned about this cut to retiree benefits and will work to restore and improve them.
Contributions would have to be increased in order to fund the current level of benefits under the Liberals’ new Pharmacare regulations. Another way to ensure health and welfare benefit coverage for retired nurses is to bargain coverage by HEABC under the plan for active members. BCNU members will have to consider the funding of retiree group benefits as an issue in preparation for the next round of bargaining.
We encourage you to express your concerns about the above changes.
In writing to:
Municipal Pension Board of Trustees
Pension Board Secretariat
PO Box 9460 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9V8
Fax: 1 - 250 - 387-4199
E-mail: Pension.Board@gems8.gov.bc.ca
Attend the Annual General Meeting of the MPP – November 2, 2002, 10:00 a.m. in:
- Cranbrook, Prestige Inn
- Nanaimo, Coast Bastion Inn
- Prince George, Civic Centre
- Kelowna, Grand Okanagan Resort
- Vancouver, Robson Square Conference Centre
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Please copy BCNU on written correspondence.
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