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Comptroller Sean Scanlon highlights retirement expansion, drug discount card and MERS pension reforms
Summary
Comptroller Sean Scanlon told the Paid Leave podcast his office expanded MyCD Savings retirement enrollments, runs a free ArrayRx drug discount card with reported average savings of about $200, and enacted MERS pension reforms projected to save municipalities roughly $800 million over 30 years.
Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon used the Paid Leave podcast to lay out several of his office’s initiatives, including growth in a state-run small-employer retirement program, a statewide drug discount card and municipal pension reforms he said will ease local budgets.
On the retirement program: Scanlon said the MyCD Savings plan (a retirement option the comptroller’s office runs for small businesses) grew from about 700 enrolled companies before he took office to roughly 7,500 in the following years and that more than 40,000 people are now saving through the program. "We now have 7,500 enrolled," he said, adding the office conducts outreach such as business walks with local officials.
On drug-pricing relief: Scanlon described ArrayRx, the state’s free drug discount card, saying it is accepted at about 98% of pharmacies in Connecticut and that users see average savings of about $200. He summarized typical discounts as around 80% on generic drugs and 20% on brand-name drugs and encouraged listeners to download the card from the program website (referenced as arxcard.com/arrayrxcard). "Literally pause this podcast," he said, urging immediate sign-up.
On municipal pension reform: Scanlon described the Municipal Employees' Retirement System (MERS) situation his office inherited—contribution rates had risen about 75% over five years, and 107 of 169 towns participate. He said a 2023 reform effort that brought together Democrats, Republicans, labor and local leaders restructured the system and will save participating towns about $800,000,000 over the next 30 years.
Fiscal context: Scanlon framed these programs against broader fiscal improvements he credited to bipartisan budgeting since 2017: eight consecutive years of surpluses, a $4,000,000,000 rainy day fund and reducing about $10,000,000,000 of unfunded pension liability. He said eliminating some of that debt freed roughly $750,000,000 in the last fiscal year for possible investments or tax relief.
Attributions and verification: All specific dollar figures, enrollment totals and projected savings were reported by Scanlon in the interview and are presented here as his statements. The comptroller’s office is the primary source in the episode; independent verification of the numbers was not provided in the podcast.
The segment closed with Scanlon urging public education about these programs and with a reminder that more information is available through program websites referenced in the episode.
