Some years ago, the retired teachers of Maine were asked to take a hit on the single coverage health plan to help balance the state budget at a time of need.

During this period, we were also promised a reward for this sacrifice: The benefit would be returned to full single coverage in a reasonable time. It remains at 45 percent. State workers, however, receive 100 percent coverage while drawing from the same system.

I do not begrudge the state workers, for they had to suffer through work furloughs as a compromise to keep their benefit. Educators were not and are not in a position to do so.

While the majority of school districts cover at least 80 percent of health care for their employees (even full family coverage, not just single), a retired teacher gets no help to cover his or her spouse. Teachers proportionately contribute much more than state workers to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System, which is totally self-sustaining when legislators and governors do not borrow from it.

This is our retirement – our hard-earned money agreed to under contracts. We loaned it to the state of Maine when it was in need, and now we are in need. Our retirement is also taxed twice by the state. It is time to come clean.

I worked as a teacher for 37 years and I, as with all teachers, cannot collect Social Security or Medicare in any way, even if we paid in enough quarters or we draw off our spouses’ benefits. Other workers can usually get up to 50 percent of this benefit. Even if my spouse passes away, I get no death benefit whatsoever from Social Security.

No other state in New England treats its retired educators in this way.

Richard Paine

Wells

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