Why AEA/NEA/AERA membership is important for retirees

Consider the following advantages of retired membership:

• Passing COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) Legislation - there are no automatic COLAs for retirees.
• Passing PEEHIP Funding - health care costs are rising rapidly.
• Protecting Retirement System Funds - retirement funds should be invested for the benefit of the members.
• Protecting the Education Trust Fund - funds for COLAs and PEEHIP come from the ETF.
• Other Benefits of AEA/NEA/AERA Retired Membership - take advantage of the free Attorney Referral Program as well as discounts on travel, consumer goods, insurance, and financial products.

You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print out the membership enrollment form. If you have not already done so, download Adobe Acrobat Reader for no charge by clicking the button on the left. Go to the bottom of the page that comes up and click on "Get Acrobat Reader free." Save it on your computer then follow the directions to install it. After installation, click on the title above to view the file.

More Reasons For Being a Member

1. Members are eligible for benefits that include several insurance plans available at group rates. As you know, your TRS life insurance benefit ends upon retirement.Members receive details of numerous other benefits in each issue of the Alabama School Journal and The AERA News.
   
2. At no additional cost, members receive the AEA/AERA Personal Passenger Vehicle Protection Plan. Members protect their personal vehicles by affixing special window decals to the left front window. The plan offers a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and felony conviction of anyone stealing the vehicle.
   
3. Members have the AEA and AERA toll-free telephone numbers and receive up-to-date information and assistance when they have questions and concerns about benefits, COLAs and PEEHIP.
   
4. Retiree membership provides an opportunity for fellowship, informative programs and community service through the more than 70 AERA local units. We urge you to join a local unit to stay informed. For information on the local retired unit nearest you, call AERA at 1-800-537-6867.
   
5. Members receive free professional liability insurance when they substitute.
   
6. Retired members receive state and national publications that describe association programs and give timely information on legislative proposals.
   
7. AEA and AERA, a division of AEA, oppose the state taxation of Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) benefits. Retirees pay no state taxes on their TRS benefits.
   
8. Your membership dues also provide representation at the national level on Medicare, Social Security, and health care reform. NEA-Retired closely monitors these issues in the U.S. Congress.
   
9. AEA lobbied for the creation of the Teachers' Retirement System in 1941 and, along with AERA, we defend the retirement system from diversion of funds, "raids," under-funding, misuse of funds, and unsound investments.
   
10. AEA/AERA lobbied for the creation of PEEHIP (Public Education Employees Health Insurance Plan) in 1983 and have successfully lobbied for state funding to keep out-of-pocket premiums low.

“The Bottom Line”
The Dollar Value of Retired Membership
COLAs       $ $ $ $ $

Retirees do not automatically receive raises each year.  You are asked to pay AEA/AERA Membership Dues to cover the expenses of passing new laws giving retirees pay raises called COLAs (Cost of Living Adjustments).  When you pay membership dues, you are investing in passing your next COLA.

PEEHIP Health Insurance Funding    $ $ $ $ $

The State of Alabama is paying for a large part of your PEEHIP coverage.  State law does not require the Legislature to pay for any part of your insurance. Your membership dues make it possible for AEA/AERA to win state funding of your PEEHIP insurance. 

The Legislature decides to either fund or not fund PEEHIP for retirees every year. You can lose state funding for PEEHIP if retirees don't pay dues and AEA & AERA become weak and unable to pass PEEHIP funding in the Legislature. Keep AEA & AERA strong by paying your retired membership dues. Paying your membership dues is how you send a message to the Governor and the state Legislature that you want to keep your PEEHIP funding and benefits. Compare what you pay to what the state is paying for you. The Legislature sets the amount paid by the state and your dues help us influence the Legislature.