Educators, unions press committee to raise pension COLA base and cap retiree health costs

Educators, local union leaders and the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts urged the Joint Committee on Public Service to advance House Bill 28‑12 (and its Senate companion, S 18‑17), which would raise the pension cost‑of‑living adjustment base from $13,000 to $18,000 and add protections for retiree health‑care costs. Max Page, president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, described the current COLA as applied only to the first $13,000 of a pension and said that over decades the COLA covers a much smaller share of retirees' total pension value. "The promise the Commonwealth makes is that if you serve the public... you'll be able to retire in dignity," Page said, urging lawmakers to raise the base to $18,000 and to freeze retiree health‑insurance contribution percentages at the level in effect when a worker retires. Witnesses also asked for a cap on out‑of‑pocket costs for retirees not eligible for Medicare — proposal language discussed would limit costs to $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families for retirees 65 and older who are not Medicare‑eligible. Testimony included personal stories of retirees facing rising medical costs and of teachers who retired into lower benefits than those available earlier. Labor representatives argued the change would help recruitment and retention of public employees. Committee members asked clarifying questions but did not act on the bill during the hearing; witnesses offered to submit additional fiscal information.