UPDATED January 12, 2021
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January 12,
2021 COVID
VACCINATION INFORMATION FROM OUR POLICE SURGEON |
There are 2 ways to gain immunity to the new Coronavirus,
SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes the disease Covid-19. You
can “catch” it [and either have no symptoms or be sick] or you
can be immunized with the vaccine. Here, we shall talk about the
vaccine.
ABOUT DNA and RNA The disease Covid-19 is caused by an
RNA virus. Let’s define DNA and RNA. DNA is present and the
main constituent in chromosomes as a double helix [a twisted
ladder]. It is the carrier of genetic material. Most
viruses are DNA. RNA, also present in all living cells, is
a shorter single helix and acts mainly as a messenger from DNA in
controlling the manufacture of proteins. Particularly in this virus
the RNA carries the genetic material. Almost all
previous vaccines have been DNA type. This one is different.
HIV and RSV in infants are examples of other RNA viruses. We have
not previously made a successful large scale RNA vaccine.
ABOUT VACCINES A vaccine is a compound made
specially to stimulate production of antibodies which produce
immunity to the specific disease without becoming sick from that
disease. Vaccines against Covid-19, in conjunction with the
basic anti-Covid-19 measures, are the best way to end this
pandemic.
Although there are about 11 vaccines in the hopper, only 2
are available in the USA at present. The Pfizer and the Moderna
vaccines both have been granted emergency use authorization by our
FDA. Both are mRNA [messenger RNA] vaccines. A third vaccine by
Astra-Zeneca is being used in Europe, but has not yet been approved
for use in the USA. The EU has contracted a total of 6
vaccines. These vaccines do not contain live virus.
You cannot get Covid-19 or any other disease from these vaccines.
This is not possible. There is no tracking chip in the vaccines.
ABOUT PFIZER VACCINE The Pfizer vaccine, made with
their German partner BioNTech, which may be given to anyone over 16
years, requires 2 doses given 21 days apart. It has a 40-50%
efficacy rate starting after 8 days and a 95% efficacy staring 7
days after the second shot. The downside of this vaccine is that it
must be kept at -95F in transit as well as in storage. This
requires special freezing equipment. In the key
double-blinded study of 44,000, only 94 individuals became sick and
of those 90% were in the placebo [no active ingredients]
group. this study will not be complete until 164 positive
cases are included in the results. Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
uses RNA genetic molecule to cause our own cells to make a protein
called a spike or S protein. Then our immune system encounters
this protein and produces antibodies and immune cells that can
recognize the protein quickly and then deliver a swift attack
against the virus when it is met.
ABOUT MODERNA VACCINE Moderna’s vaccine, a.k.a.
mRNA-1273, is given to people older than18 years, and it also shows
a 90-95% efficacy after the 2 dose regimen, given 28 days apart.
IT IS VITAL TO CONTINUE WITH THE 2ND DOSE OF THE SAME VACCINE AT
THE PROPER TIME INTERVAL because they work differently. In
the key study of over 30,000 participants, mean age 51.4 years,
including many predisposing medical conditions, more than 96%
completed the 2 doses, symptomatic Covid-19 was confirmed in the
placed group and only 11 in the active group, showing an efficacy of
94.1%. Keep in mind, these data are only short term. We need
to see how long this level of efficacy persists. Both the
Pfizer and Moderna vaccine send a message to our cells to produce a
harmless piece of the S protein [remember the spike on the outside
of the virus] which our immune system recognizes as foreign and
creates antibodies, building an immune response. These both are mRNA
vaccines. The mRNA in these vaccines is synthetic, made
from chemicals to look like normal RNA but modified slightly to
increase its stability. No viral component is used to make this
vaccine. The mRNA is delivered in a small sphere of inert fatty
material, which is then suspended in saline solution and injected
into the muscle of the arm.
ABOUT ASTRA-ZENECA VACCINE The European Union has
approved the use of Oxford University/Astra-Zeneca Vaccine in Europe
for people over 18 years of age. This also is a 2 -dose vaccine to
be given 4-12 weeks apart. The beauty of this is that needs to
be kept at 35.6F to 46.4F, which is the same as regular refrigerator
and may be kept refrigerated for 6 months. This is a viral vector
vaccine. It retools a chimpanzee adenovirus, which was chosen hoping
that people would not be immune to it or that could cause a reaction
in itself. They make a weakened version of this virus and
insert some genetic material from the virus that causes Covid-19,
into it. Once inside, the plan is for our cells make a protein
unique to the COVID-19 virus, make copies of it and fool our body to
make an immune response [giant macrophages, B and T-lymphocytes]
which will remember how to fight that virus in the future if we
become infected.
ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS Side effects are effects which
may possibly happen but are not the sought aftereffects. These
Covid-19 vaccines cause the routine mild side effects seen with most
vaccines. • Pain, redness, soreness at injection
site • Low grade fever •
Fatigue • Headache, nausea or
vomiting • Chills •
Rash • Muscle or joint pain After receiving the
vaccine, it is recommended that you are to be observed for 10-15
minutes to ensure that there is no immediate severe allergic
reaction, like anaphylaxis, which will be immediately treated. The
minor side effects listed above typically occur within the first 2
or 3 days and last for 1-2 days. These effects indicate that the
inflammatory process is occurring. They actually indicate that the
vaccine is working. The immune response involves some degree
of inflammation and these short-term side effects are merely the
signs of inflammation. so actually, they are not bad. They are
expected. Most studies show 5-15% chance of these side
effects. Oftentimes these effects are worse after the second
muscular injection. The safety of the vaccines has been
rigorously studied. Although “Warp Speed” had increased the
speed of research, development and manufacture, the safety trials
went through routine FDA phase 1, phase 2 and phase 3 trials, where
tens of thousands of people, teens and elders, healthy and frail,
were included. Possible long term side effects have yet to be
studied because the rush to stop the pandemic has not permitted long
term study yet.
ABOUT WHO SHOULD GET
VACCINE
Everyone older than 18 years
old. Elderly people and those with
underlying medical condition may get the vaccine. People
who have recovered from the disease.
ABOUT WHO SHOULD NOT GET VACCINE Anyone who has had
previous severe allergic reaction to this vaccine. Anyone
who has had previous severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in
this vaccine. Anyone who is pregnant, or breast feeding,
should discuss this with her physician. Children under 18
years of age. Anyone who has an acute
illness. Anyone exposed to COVID-19 should wait out the
quarantine period.
ABOUT HERD IMMUNITY Dr Anthony Fauci estimates that
80-85% of Americans need to be vaccinated for us to reach herd
immunity. Most other experts have said that 70-75%, which is similar
to most other diseases, should suffice.
CONCLUSION
Multiple layers or protection, like layers of slices of
cheese, are needed to stop the spread of Covid-19 and finally end
this pandemic. No individual layer is perfect, including the
vaccine. Each layer has holes in it. When the holes are
aligned, disease occurs. [you can see why this is called “the swiss
cheese model”.] Now, if when we combine several layers -
masks, social distancing, hand-washing, testing, tracing, outdoor
small groups, indoor ventilation, education, and vaccines - we can
significantly reduce the overall risk of infection and bring an end
to this pandemic. One out of every 1.000 Americans alive at
the beginning of 2020 has died of Covid-19 by the year’s end.
Experts tell us that all these things will be required to produce
the desired result, not just any one modality. But, remember that
there is no positive effect of the vaccine if you do not take
it. We can do it. We must do it.
by Gerald Ente,
MD Retirees Association Honorary Police Surgeon |

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August 6,
2020
INFORMATION FOR RETIREES WITH AETNA MEDICAL
INSURANCE |
From Alan Berkowitz berky4@aol.com
Alan recently received this note from Aetna Insurance Company
relating to a rate increase Aetna had passed on to the retirees who
use their plan. Note the rate increase will be taken away starting
in September after negotiations with the City of NY.
Hello Alan I hope this email finds you well, and that you and
your family are staying safe during these unprecedented times. I am
reaching out to you because it has come to my attention the City has
made a revision to the Aetna rate for July 1, 2020. Your retirees
will begin to see a pension deduction of $1.22 for retiree or $2.44
for retiree and spouse. We are working with the City to neutralize
so members will not have a pension deduction, unfortunately this
will not occur until September. You may begin to receive calls
inquiring about the charge and wanted to make you aware. I was
hoping you could also send a broader email to the 10-13 presidents
so they are aware just in case they receive calls. Please call me
with any questions. Thank you, Sabrina
DeGuzman Simmons Medicare Account Director Retiree Markets
Mobile: (703) 531-7614 Email: SimmonsS@Aetna.com |

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April 9,
2020
2019 MEDICARE PART 'B' REIMBURSEMENTS |
Thanks to Alan Berkowitz for this information berky6@aol.com
The Health Benefits Retiree client service walk-in center is
closed.
Due to the closure of the office, retirees who
mailed or faxed forms or correspondance March 11, 2020 or after, we
cannot access or process that form. Please resubmit your documents
as follows:
1) Inquries and questions can be emailed to healthbenefits@olr.nyc.gov
2)
Forms/documents can be sent via email to NYCRetireesHBP@emblemhealth.com Please
do NOT include your Social Security number, include your Employee ID
or pension number only.
3) For questions regarding the PICA
prescription drug benefit program please call
1-800-467-2006.
4) If you are a HIP-HMO member turning 65 or
on Medicare due to a disability, please contact HIP at (800)
447-9169 to enroll over the phone. Please identify yourself as a
City of New York retiree or dependent of a retiree. For all other
members enrolled in a HMO plan, please contact your health plan at
the customer service numbers on the back of your ID card. Please
note that active employees can contact NYCAPS Central by:
1)
Phone - 212-487-0500
2) Email - nycapscentral@dcas.nyc.gov
Or HealthBenefits@dcas.nyc.gov Please
check our website periodically for updates.
The Medicare Part 'B' reimbursements are scheduled to be sent out
in late April. The latest information found here https://www1.nyc.gov/site/olr/health/healthhome.page
Check the dates from when you first came under Medicare as the
payments are different and if you have submitted the IRMAA form for
additional deductions, do not fill out the Differential form. Those
payments will be made separately in October. The City has a habit of
making simple things very complicated.
Medicare Part B Reimbursement Schedule for
Retirees
Medicare Part B 2019 Reimbursement
Medicare Part B 2019 reimbursements will be
distributed by the end of April 2020.
For those
retirees/eligible dependent of a retiree with a Medicare
Part B effective date between 2016 and 2019, they will be
reimbursed at the rate of $135.50 per month. ($135.50 x 12
months = $1,626 annual amount)
For those
retirees/eligible dependent of a retiree with a Medicare
Part B effective date prior to 2016, they will be
reimbursed at the rate of $109.00 per month. ($109 x 12
months = $1,308 annual amount)
For those
retirees/eligible dependent of a retiree with a Medicare Part B
effective date prior to 2016, they will receive an additional amount
up to $300. They must submit a Medicare Part B 2019 Reimbursement
Differential Request Form
IRMAA 2019 Reimbursement IRMAA 2019
reimbursements are scheduled to be issued by the end of October
2020.
Those retirees who are eligible for IRMAA must submit
the IRMAA 2019 Reimbursement Application. Health Benefits
Program staff will be processing 2019 IRMAA forms once the Medicare
Part B 2019 payment is issued in April 2020.
Medicare Part B 2019 Differential
Reimbursement Medicare Part B 2019 differential
reimbursements are scheduled to be issued by the end of
March 2021.
Medicare Part B 2019 differential payments up to $300 will be
issued once the Medicare Part B and IRMAA payments are processed in
calendar year 2020.
Those retirees who are eligible
for 2019 Medicare Part B differential reimbursements must submit the
Medicare Part B 2019 Reimbursement Differential Request Form
Health Benefits Program staff will be processing Medicare
Part B 2019 Reimbursement Differential Request Form once IRMAA
payments are issued in October 2020
Please note that, if you are applying for IRMAA
and eligible for this additional $300 reimbursement, you do not need
to complete the Medicare Part B 2019 Reimbursement Differential
Request Form since you will be receiving this amount at the same
time the IRMAA payment is issued in October 2020.
|

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April 8,
2020
DOC ENTE'S UPDATED VIRUS REPORT |
To members of Retired Transit Police Officers Association and
NYSFOP Lodge # 317: I have been asked so many questions
and there is so much new information now, that I am sending you a
supplement. The numbers for the USA are 400,549
infected,12,857 deaths and 21,711 recovered. You all know that this
plague is moving so fast that these are like yesterday's
newspaper. My sources tell me that at Elmhurst Hospital in Brooklyn,
there are 2 death per hour in the ER.
Most of my questions are "What is a virus?" Interestingly,
a virus is not a living organism; it is a protein molecule
[micro-blob] covered by a membrane [layer] of fat. It exists
outside, but basically can only replicate [multiply] when it gets
into a living cell, unfortunately, like up your nose, in your
throat, etc...then it becomes aggressive. Remember, we can't kill it
because it is not living but HAND WASHING will destroy this thing.
It takes a 20 second wash with any soap [does not need to
anti-bacterial soap] to dissolve the outer membrane, so now you see
why HAND WASHING is not like having the husband boil water in the
old days for a home birth. It is an ACTIVE method [treatment] for
destruction of any virus. Everyone has seen photos of this virus. To
me it looks like a mine, like what our destroyers in WWII placed in
the oceans, but remember, it is only a protein, like RNA,
encapsulated by a layer of fat.
Any mixture of ALCOHOL over 65% dissolves any fat [including the
fat viral membrane]. Sorry, but no, most vodkas do not contain that
much alcohol, so it is wiser to drink it or use it as gifts than to
wash hands in it. HEAT melts the fat, so it is best to wash
your body and hands and clothes in water between 75-80 degrees F.
Suds and foam also increase the destruction of the fatty layer but
do not shake dirty laundry before washing because it will spread
active virus in the air. The scientists at Johns Hopkins say that
the virus may stay active in air or on a feather duster for 3 hours,
on aluminum for 2-8 hours, on copper for 4 hrs, on cardboard for 1
day, plastics for 2-3 days, wood for 4 days,
paper-ceramics-glass-metal for up to 5 days. The message here is to
be careful. Any mixture with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water applied
directly will break down the protein and dissolve the virus from the
inside. No spray or solution which is BACTERICIDAL,
BACTERISTATIC or ANTIBIOTIC has any use here as a cleanser because
the virus is not living. This virus remains stable in cold,
air-conditioning and in the freezer. VINEGAR seems to have no
effect. DRYNESS helps to degrade the virus so a well-lit open
dehumidified environment helps. UV LIGHT will destroy the virus.
Here are some facts about
COVID-19:
A package coming from China is safe...it has exceeded the time that
the virus is stable on
cardboard..
The LABORATORY TESTS are only about 70% accurate. [for lots of
reasons.]
This disease did not begin from bat
soup. This
virus cannot go through intact normal hydrated skin.
The virus
can hide under finger nails so keep them short.
Remember to wash your hands every time you touch anything,
do anything, or come in from outside.Now because your skin will dry
out from excess washing, you should use a moisturizer.[the thicker
the better and no need for classy expensive
lotions]. STAY SAFE and STAY WELL !
JERRY ENTE MD SURGEON, Retired Transit Police Officers
Association and Lodge 317 NYS FOP Entedoc@aol.com |

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April 4,
2020
COVID-19 VIRUS REPORT FROM ASSOCIATION SURGEON |
We wish to thank our Honorary Police Surgeon, Doc Ente for
this article on the Coronavirus
To members of Transit Police Retirees Association:
It is
great to be talking to you all again. Today we talk about covid-19.
I may not be saying anything you all don't know because I expect
that you have been following all the news from the media but I can
re-enforce certain things and at the end give you a chance to ask me
questions which I will try to answer.
COronaVIrusDisease-2019. That is how it was named. [Virologists
always use abbreviations like codes to name their new viruses].
Obviously, this is different from the flu...symptoms are
symptoms...there are just so many things a body can do, so it's not
the symptoms that are too different. Differences include the
fact that newborns, infants and children are not being severely
affected by this bug [although 6 kids died in Wuhan, China in the
original batch and one 6 month old just died in Connecticut].
Mother-to-baby transmission during pregnancy does not occur. BUT...
these kids are being infected, often without symptoms, and carrying
the disease to their loving grandparents, who have an increased
chance of severe symptoms, including death, because of their old
age, the poor immune status, and their cardiac and lung disorders.
So, you see, kids are important to this pandemic.
Our last
pandemic was in 1917-18, beyond any of our memories. Then it was the
flu and it infected 500 million people or 1/3rd of that world
population. At that time, over 50 million people died including
almost 700,000 Americans. Today, over 1 million global cases with
over 50, 000 total deaths including over 4,500 USA deaths. The
latest population census statistics are 7.5 billion globally in 2017
and 327.2 million in the USA in 2018. We can count the number of our
dead, but right now we have no idea of the total number of Americans
who have been infected because of poor testing. You must know
that the majority of people who get a viral disease have no symptoms
[between 25% quoted from the NY Times on 3/31/20 to 60-70-80% which
I learned in med school and have always taught], so only history
will tell us how many people actually had this disease. This will be
done later on leisurely by antibody testing of sample populations or
perhaps by a newer
technique.
Another major difference is that COVID-19 is highly contagious
during the pre-symptom time of the illness. The incubation period of
this sickness is 1 to 14 days on average [it possibly could be
longer]...so any time during that period we can be contagious. At
present, there is no treatment and no vaccine yet approved to
prevent this disease...so what can we do and
why.
Lots of simple things we can do: 1. Common
sense, personal hygiene...wash hands with soap and water for at
least 20 seconds frequently...wash area around mouth and nose
also. 2. When out, use hand sanitizer which is 2/3 rubbing
alcohol and 1/3 aloe...the alcohol kills the virus, the aloe is nice
for the skin. 3. Do not shake hands...no need for physical
contact... a head nod or a salute should suffice. This virus spreads
person-to-person, so keep your distance...stay 6-10 feet apart
...that's the distance a droplet can travel. 4. Do not touch your
face, mouth, nose or eyes. It’s not as easy as it sounds [studies
show that we touch our faces many times per minute] 5. Clean all
surfaces, handles, floors and clothing frequently...this virus does
not fly around in dust particles, but it moves around in and on
liquid droplets from sneezes, coughs and talking...it lands on
things and stays alive and active for hours to days. 6. Cough and
sneeze into your elbow not the air or your hand...this is just
polite behavior. 7. When outside, wear a mask, bandana or
whatever...this will keep your germs in and help to keep others'
out...easy enough. 8. Open windows where possible to allow good
air circulation. 9. Be prepared! Take your regular medicines,
vitamins [including vitamin C, I hope], supplements [including
probiotics...I hope you remember] as usual and make sure you have
enough for a possible quarantine, but do not hoard. 10.Do not
panic! We are all in the same boat. Think positively. We shall
make it. We all had a tough job and we survived then and shall
now. 11.If you have symptoms, if you feel sick or if you have
fever, CALL YOUR DOCTOR or CLINIC before you go there and follow
instructions. 12.Do not travel; it’s insanity at this
time...shelter-at-home
This is all new...we are writing the text on covid-19...the
'facts' change constantly, so what was true yesterday may be false
today. Have patience. If you are doing what you should, you probably
will get 'cabin fever.’ Try new indoor activities. This is not
personal to you, it affects us all...the public in general and that
is why they have instituted public health measures for all of
us. If you
wish to get the latest facts about this, you can go to www.cdc.gov website for today's
latest info. If you wish to ask me my interpretation or opinion
about any of this , i am still available at 516-819-0143 or entedoc@aol.com.
Stay safe and stay well!
JERRY ENTE, MD Honorary Surgeon Retired Transit Police
Officers Association and Surgeon, Lodge 317 NYS FOP Entedoc@aol.com |

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March 7,
2020 2019 MEDICARE RE-IMBURSEMENT TO
BE SENT OUT and NEW VETERANS BENEFIT |
We wish to thank Alan Berkowitz berky4@aol.com and Lou
Hollander keystonecop1@verizon.net
for this information.
New York City Office of Labor Relations Health Benefits
Program 22 Cortlandt Street - 12th Floor New York, NY
10007 www.nyc.gov/hbp
2019 Medicare Part B Premium
Reimbursement ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
The standard reimbursement amount for Calendar Year
2019 is $109.00 per person, per month. For those newly
enrolled in Medicare in 2019, currently, the standard amount is
$135.50. The reimbursements will be issued in April. If
you are currently receiving your pension check through Electronic
Fund Transfer (EFT) or direct deposit, your Medicare Part B
reimbursement will be deposited directly into your bank account.
This will be a separate payment from your pension payment. If you
don’t have EFT or direct deposit, you will receive a check in the
mail in April. Question: How do I enroll for the
Medicare Part B reimbursement?
Answer: Complete the
Medicare Part B Reimbursement Program Application and return it with
a copy ofyour Medicare card to the address listed above, Attention:
Medicare Unit. Question: I am a City retiree. Is my
spouse/domestic partner/Medicare-eligible dependent entitled to the
Medicare Part B reimbursement?
Answer: Yes.
They are eligible if they are covered under your City health plan
and enrolled in Medicare Part B Reimbursement and the health plan
has the dependent in Medicare status. Complete the Medicare Part B
Reimbursement Program Application and return it with a copy of their
Medicare card to the address listed above, Attention: Medicare
Unit. Question: I received the standard premium
amount of $109.00 per month for 2019 for the Medicare Part B
reimbursement. However, I paid more than the standard
amount. Can I be reimbursed for the
difference? Answer: Yes. If your 2019 monthly
Medicare Part B premium was between $110.00 and $135.50, you may be
eligible for an additional reimbursement amount referred to as a
differential payment. In order to receive the differential payment,
the retiree and/or dependent must submit a copy of proof of this
additional payment (for example, the Form SSA-1099, bank statements,
CMS-500 Notice of Medicare Payment Due) to our office for
review. If approved, you will receive the differential payment
during the first quarter of 2021. For further information and to
download the Medicare Part B Differential Request form, visit our
website at nyc.gov/hbp. If, however, you are enrolled
in Medicare Part B as of 2016, you should have received
reimbursement of $135.50 per month automatically and no action will
be required on your part.
Question: Many people received their reimbursement
and I didn’t get mine yet. What should I do?
Answer:
Medicare reimbursements were deposited directly into the same
account that you use for your pension payment. Please check your
bank statement. Question: I don’t have direct
deposit for my pension payment and still have not received my
Medicare reimbursement. What should I do?
Answer: You
should write to the address listed above, Attention: Medicare Unit.
Please include your name, retiree spouse’s name (if applicable)
retiree's Social Security number, agency from which the retiree
retired, current address, telephone number, and a copy of your
Medicare card/ your spouse’s Medicare card (if applicable). This
review process may take up to 8 weeks from receipt of the above
information. Question: The reimbursement I received
is not the correct amount. What should I do?
Answer: You
should write to the address listed above, Attention: Medicare Unit.
Include your name, Social Security number, current address and
telephone number, and a copy of your Medicare card. State the reason
you believe the amount is incorrect. This process may take up to 8
weeks from receipt of the information. Question:
The check that I received is torn/ripped and the bank will not cash
it. What should I do?
Answer: You should return the
check to the address listed above, Attention: Medicare Unit. Include
your name and Social Security number. It may take up to 8 weeks for
a replacement check to be issued. Question: I am
the retiree and received a reimbursement for my spouse/domestic
partner/Medicare- eligible dependent who died during the
reimbursement year. What should I do?
Answer: Contact
the Health Benefits Program in writing. Include both the retiree’s
and deceased individual’s name, both Social Security numbers,
address, phone number and a copy of the death certificate. Mail the
information to the address listed above, Attention: Medicare
Unit. Question: My spouse/dependent was a City
retiree who died before the reimbursements were issued. How do I
claim the reimbursement?
Answer: You should write to the
address listed above, Attention: Medicare Unit. Include the
retiree’s name and Social Security number, your name, your address,
phone number and a copy of the death certificate. Upon receipt of
the death certificate, we will contact you if further documentation
is required. Question: Do I have to re-enroll every
year for the Medicare Part B Reimbursement?
Answer: No,
but if you change your address, or if one of the eligible Medicare
Part B recipients dies, you must notify the Health Benefits Program,
in writing
Question: What if my bank account information
changes?
Answer: Please notify your pension system
directly of any bank account changes. The changes will be
automatically used for the Medicare Part B
reimbursements. Question: I paid more than the
standard premium for Medicare Part B. Am I entitled to the higher
premium reimbursement (IRMAA)?
Answer: You may be
entitled to the higher reimbursement through Income Related Monthly
Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Visit our website at nyc.gov/hbp for
further information. Click o link or copy and paste into a web
browser 2019 Medicare Part B Premium Reimbursement - New York
City
Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of
2019 Are you eligible for benefits? The
Blue Water Navy (BWN) Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 (PL
116-23) extended the presumption of herbicide exposure,
such as Agent Orange, to Veterans who served in the offshore waters
of the Republic of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, Veterans who served as far as
12 nautical miles from the shore of Vietnam, or who had service in
the Korean Demilitarized Zone, are presumed to have been exposed to
herbicides, such as Agent Orange, and may be entitled to service
connection for any of the 14 conditions related to herbicide
exposure. VA is also now able to extend benefits to children with
spina bifida whose BWN Veteran parent may have been exposed while
serving.
For more information view attached fact sheet or
visit VA's Blue Water Navy Benefits page.
·
Law Extends
Benefits for Eligible Veterans.pdf
|

|
July 7,
2019
INFORMATION ON AETNA MEDICARE
PLANS
|
Lou Hollander received this information from Alan Berkowitz
berky4@aol.com
Hello
Alan, I am sharing the Aetna website we have developed for City
of NY retirees. See link below and feel free to share.
https://cony-ma.aetnamedicare.com
Sabrina DeGuzman Simmons Medicare Account
Director Retiree Markets Mobile: (703) 531-7614 Email: SimmonsS@Aetna.com |

|
April 12,
2019
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT THE MEDICARE PART 'B'
REIMBURSEMENT |
Regarding the Medicare Part 'B' reimbursement, when a member
passes away, his or her beneficiary must file a form obtained from
the City of New York Health Benefits Program, located at 40 Rector
Street, 3rd Fl New York, NY 10006.
If the member passes away before the checks are sent out, the
surviviving spouse would get approximately $2500 from the previous
year plus every month in the present year the spouse was
alive.
You have 3 years to file the application form.
If you actually had more monies taken out of your Social Security
check because of increased income (IRMAA), you are entitled to have
those extra monies refunded.
Please go to this website at NYC Health Benefits
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/olr/downloads/pdf/health/irmaa-form-2016-2018.pdf
- Reimbursement will be issued in October
2019 |

|
August 31,
2018
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RETIREES IN SOUTH CAROLINA |
From
Lou Hollander keystonecop1@verizon.net
Aetna
Medicare Advantage will be available to retiree’s living in
South Carolina in 2019. I have been told that Aetna is also looking
into Nevada. The changeover period is coming up soon and you should
be receiving information regarding all the plans from city soon.
Next year beginning 1/1/19 the people that have Aetna will be
entitled to “Silver Sneakers”. “Resources for living” has been in
the plan since 1/1/18. See above flyers for further
information. Representatives of Aetna will be present at
the October 2nd and November 6th of the NYPD Broward 10-13 General
Membership and on the West Coast the NYPD Hernando County 10-13
Club, September 5th and October 10th
|

|
March 27,
2018
PROBLEMS WITH GHI / ENCOMPASS HEALTH |
The following was sent by Lou Hollander and Alan Berkowitz as
received from Ret. NYPD Capt. H. Katowitz of the Charlotte NC 10-13
Club hkatowitz@windstream.net
Hi All, A week does not go by where I am not contacted by a
club member who has a problem locating a GHI participating
physician. The NYC Office of Labor Relations informed the
attorney involved in the lawsuit against GHI that they have not
received any complaints against GHI. We need to change
this.
It is important that everyone files a complaint with
the NYC Office of Labor Relations at: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/olr/about/email-the-commissioner.page Please
copy the information you filed in the complaint and email it to
me. Below is the information I included in the
complaint I filed with Commissioner Linn, NYC Office of Labor
Relations.
Commissioner Linn, I am a retired NYPD Captain and
president of the NYPD 10-13 Club of Charlotte, NC. Our club is
comprised of 282 retired NYPD officers who reside with their
families in the Charlotte, NC area. There are 2 additional
10-13 chapters in NC. The Raleigh chapter has 120 retired NYPD
officers and the Wilmington chapter has 105 retired NYPD
officers.
Most of our members have NYC health coverage through
GHI-CBP. Unfortunately there are very few physicians in NC who
participate in this plan and our attempts to recruit physicians have
been thwarted by Emblem Health/GHI. In one instance a GHI service
representative told a medical administrator for a local physician
that she would not recommend the physician becoming a GHI provider,
that their insurance rates are lower than most insurance
companies.
Another service rep told a physician that GHI is not accepting
new applications for providers to join their network in NC, because
there are enough participating providers. If you check the GHI
website for GHI-CBP providers within 50 miles of Charlotte you will
see that the number of physicians on this list, especially in
specialty fields, is inadequate to cover the medical needs of the
NYPD retirees and their families. Members often have to travel over
100 miles to find participating providers. I mailed
letters to the President and CEO of Emblem Health outlining our
efforts to recruit area physicians and the roadblocks we faced from
GHI. I included letters and emails from area physicians who
were thwarted in their efforts to become GHI-CBP participating
providers. If you provide me with an address, I will mail you
copies of the letters and emails. Additionally I
recently became aware of a provision in a 2014 NY Attorney General
"Assurance of Discontinuance" (settlement) that GHI is not in
compliance with. The relevant section, #32 can be found at:
https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/pdfs/bureaus/health_care/new/2014-09-8_GHI_CBP_OON-Fully_Executed_AOD.pdf
If you are affected by this inaction on the part of
GHI/Emblem Health, do yourself a big favor and make a formal
complaint. |

|
September 5,
2017
WTC HEALTH REGISTRY (WTCHR) PROGRAM |
Lou Hollander received this from Bob Ballard HAWK726@aol.com
What I'm writing about today is my experience with the WTC Health
Registry (WTCHR) program.
I registered with WTCHR sometime in 2002 - 03. Since the program
was new, they had their heads in the sand and moved very slowly with
diagnosis & treatments.
FAST FORWARD to 2009 - various medical issues have arisen and I
contacted WTCHR. They wanted me to come to Beekman Downtown Hospital
for evaluation & (if required) treatment. Problem is, I now
live in South Jersey & due to medical reasons from 9/11, I
cannot travel into Manhattan (and most other crowded places) without
physical / mental issues.
Back & forth on the phone with them until 2013. Finally I was
placed in the Nationwide Provider Network (NPN) administered by
Logistics Health Incorporated (LHI) located in La Crosse, WI.
LHI set up an initial general assessment and then contacted
physicians locally (within 50 miles of my home) for diagnosis and
treatment.
It took about 9 months to a year to get my medical issues
certified, but that's a good thing!
THE ADVANTAGE - The covered conditions are now FULLY PAID FOR.
That is to say, whatever your personal medical coverage doesn't
cover - LHI picks up the "customary" costs (payer of last resort). I
really don't have to worry about how I'm going to cover any "9/11
related" medical expenses now or in the future. Of course there is a
"price" to pay for this - the paperwork. To cover unpaid bills (or
portions thereof), recoup co-pays (Dr. visits, prescriptions, etc.)
you need to a) get the LHI form, b) get the Explanation of Benefits
(EOB) for the particular instance from your insurance provider, c)
provide receipts /unpaid bills and mail to LHI - ALL within 60 days.
To their credit, they have recently contracted with Walgreens
mail order service for "maintenance drugs", but initial
prescriptions filled locally are on you - then get reimbursed.
ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS - You are required to have an annual
assessment, usually by a physician of their choosing.
Prior to this assessment you have to fill out a health /wellness
questionnaire either by phone (30-50 minutes) or on-line. ***TIP***
always request a HARD COPY of this questionnaire - reason - the
questions rarely vary from year to year but memories fade a bit from
year to year and you want to be consistent with your answers. You
can review the previous year’s answers for the newer
questionnaire.
The annual assessment consists of something similar to your
normal annual physical. Blood/urine test (fasting required), EKG,
spirometry and chest x-ray, and any other tests they deem necessary.
Then a follow-up (days - weeks) later with a physician. The
physician will go over the test results with you, give you a
comprehensive medical exam and give you their findings /
recommendations.
For the guys who are already being treated for 9/11 related
conditions not registered with WTCHR, I guess there’ll be some
"wiggle room" about who's treating them but I doubt they'll let the
annual assessments pass by.
I highly recommend getting those conditions certified by WTCHR
just for the peace of mind about financial security in the
future. |

|
August 21.
2016 THE
DOCTOR'S CORNER |
The following articles are from our Association's Police
Surgeon Dr. Gerald Ente entedoc@aol.com

ZIKA VIRUS
UPDATE
Mosquitoes
spread all sorts of diseases around the world. It is estimated that 700
million people are infected annually internationally by
mosquito-borne diseases.
Mosquitoes
do not actually bite. The adults have a mouthpart called a proboscis
through which they feed on nectar + other plant juices. The adult female needs blood
sources to produce eggs.
Mosquitoes have a variety of methods to find their prey,
including chemical, visual + heat
sensors.
The female
pierces the skin of the blood source (that’s us), injects her
saliva, finds a capillary and withdraws her blood meal. Her saliva
contains an amazing group of chemicals including anticoagulants and
other substances to prevent clotting of the blood, pathogens, viral,
bacterial or parasitic agents (which cause disease), and an
analgesic to prevent the person from feeling the
“bite”.
Most
mosquitos feed at dawn or dusk, although there are lots of
exceptions including the Asian Tiger mosquito, which is at home in
Florida. Most mosquitos can fly only 100-200 yards. The Aedes
Aegypti mosquito is the main vector of Zika Virus, a native of
Florida, and can also spread yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya
virus. She feeds on several blood sources [4 or 5] to obtain enough
blood protein to produce her eggs. This mosquito lives happily
indoors as well as outside and “bites” during the day as well as at
night. [Go figure].
As
of beginning of August, there are over 1,700 reported cases of Zika
in the U.S.A, 14 cases by sexual contact, 400 cases in pregnant
women, 5 cases Of Guillain Barre Syndrome and 15 home grown cases in
South Florida. There are almost 500 reported cases in the New York
area.
Now
Zika is an interesting disease because it is usually benign. Four
out of five people contracting it have no symptoms. The other twenty
percent may have typical viral symptoms plus pink eye and a
nondescript reddish rash on their body. A rare person may develop an
unusual, serious neurological condition called Guillain-Barre
Syndrome (or ascending paralysis) which is like polio. The only
other people to whom Zika is a major problem are pregnant women. The
chances of having a baby with Microcephaly and other major
neurological defects and diseases is less than 1%. This statistic is
problematic because when it occurs, the 1% chance becomes a 100%
lifelong fact.
So
lets talk about what young fertile women can do to avoid Zika
infection.
1) Avoid unnecessary travel to areas where these mosquitos
are rampant.
2) Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants as protective
clothing.
3) Avoid outdoors whenever possible around dawn or
dusk.
4) Use EPA recommended mosquito repellants as directed on the
label.
5) Use mosquito netting where possible (for
babies).
6) Keep screen doors and windows in good repair and
closed.
Health
departments and governments all over the world are working on ways
of preventing Zika with chemicals and biologics, but there are
things that each of us could do.
1) Clean up stagnant standing water on your property. Empty
flower pots, old tires,
bird baths, saucers under flower pots, clogged gutters,
puddles of all sizes, and even up turned soda bottle caps can
act as nurseries for mosquito larvae.
2) Because mosquitos may be in your home, aside from sprays
use a mosquito bed net.
3) Use standing water treatment tablets when you can’t empty
the water.
4) Use DEET or permethrin mosquito spray. According to Consumer
Reports, the three best bug sprays are:
1) Ben’s 30% DEET tic & insect wilderness formula (safe for
pregnant women and children)
2) Sawyer Picaridin (not safe for children under 3
years old)
3)Repel lemon eucalyptus( not safe for children under 3 years
old)
Babies
under the age of two moths old should not have any of these used on
them. Use only mosquito netting. Remember to apply insect spray
after applying sunscreen and wash it off with soap and water when
returning indoors.
Zika is
present in all states in our country. Since mosquitos love heat and
moisture, Florida is a favorite. Most U.S. cases are picked up while
traveling to South and Central America and the Caribbean. Now our
local mosquitoes are beginning to carry the virus in their mid gut
and are infective.
In all
probability, Zika viral infections are most dangerous to the fetus
early in pregnancy. It seems like infection in the third trimester
may be safe. While mosquitoes are the main transmission, cases of
sexual transmission can and have occurred in any form either male to
female, female to female, or female to male. So the best advice from
the CDC is for pregnant women to abstain or when having sex to use
condoms. Any pregnant woman who thinks she has been exposed is
advised to seek testing and call her OB
doctor.
If anyone
has any further questions about mosquitoes or the Zika virus, feel
free to contact me = Jerry Ente, MD at entedoc@aol.com
SALT - DO YOU REALLY NEED IT?
From a health point of view, the less salt you eat each
day, the healthier it is. But as we age we lose taste buds for
discrimination for all other tastes except salt. So as we get older
we prefer more salty foods. In the New England Journal of Medicine
in August of 2014, a consensus of articles about salt intake agreed
that excessive salt was unhealthy and contributed to heart disease,
high blood pressure, stroke and kidney disease.
The World Health Organization and the American Heart
Association recommend 1500-2500 mgs of sodium daily. They pointed
out that less than 1% of our worldwide population consume less than
2 grams (2,000 mgs) daily. The average American eats 5 or more
teaspoons of salt each day, which is twenty times the
recommendation. Our body needs only a quarter teaspoon of salt
daily. A common target for a low salt diet is 1500-2000 mgs daily.
Salt regulates fluid balance in our bodies and maintains blood
volume and pressure. Too little salt will create a lack of
energy.
Foods high in salt include;
Smoked, canned, cured or salted
meats
Regular or processed cheese, spreads and sauces,
cottage cheese Pizza, croutons Olives, pickles, sour kraut Canned
vegetables Soy sauce, seasoning salt and marinades Bottled salad
dressings Salted butter or margarine Instant pudding Soups… Canned
soups are a wealth of salts. A tip to lower the salt if you are a
soup lover like I am is to add water. If you don’t like the thinned
out soup you can than add thin cut potato or eggplant slices and
after they absorb salt you can either throw them away, give them to
a skinny friend or eat them. Remember, soup is like liquid salt. For
example, a can of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup contains 2,030 mg
of salt. You can get reduced-sodium soups that contain 120-150 mg of
salt.
Cereals… Cereals are amazing. Kellogg’s shredded wheat
minis have 0 sodium. Corn grits have 1 mg per serving. Kellogg’s
puffed wheat has 3 mg. Health Valley Fiber 7 has 53 mg. Special K
has 220 mg. General Mills Total Raisin Bran has 446 mg. Cheerios,
which advertises as heart smart, had 300 mg in 2007, and according
to the box now has 120 mg. Kraft Post Toasties Corn Flakes have
1,020 mg, while for hot cereals Quaker’s instant grits product/ham
’n’ cheese has 1,930 mg of salt.
So what is my message… EAT SMART… READ THE LABELS…
START YOUR ENGINES!
DIETING
Are you dieting? Aren't you trying to lose weight?
Everybody is. One of the latest fads is low carbohydrates. The thing
is that carbs are an important part of your diet. But there are good
carbs and bad carbs. The “bad” carbs are the weight producing,
simple sugars, low in fiber, often time white in color. They include
sugar, syrups, white rice, white bread, white pasta, white potatoes,
cakes, cookies and sweet desserts. The “badies” also include soda
and candy.
The
“good” carbs are formed by complex sugars and starches, which
require more time for the body to break them down. “Goodies” are
less processed, more natural and more healthy. Good carbs include
fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains, yams and legumes (which
are beans, peas, lentils and nuts). Good carbs have low to moderate
calorie density which fill you up, are high in nutrients, and are
devoid of refined sugars and grains. They are full of fiber, low in
sodium, saturated fat, trans fats and
cholesterol.
Remember,
we’re not even mentioning the amount of salt, calories, diabetes
type two and fats in this discussion, there is always tomorrow. In
most supermarkets, the foods found in the outer aisles are the
natural foods which include the good carbs, while the foods in the
inner isles contain processed, boxed, and refined items, including
the bad carbs.
Your
grandma and your momma may not have known these facts and they may
not have had a choice, but they still did eat better and everyone
knows “Momma knows best.” |

|
July 9,
2015
COURT DECISION IN FAVOR OF CAPTAINS ASSOCIATION |
Thanks to Alan Berkowitz for this
news:
Dear CEA Member, We have received a copy of a
favorable court decision from the NYS Supreme Court Appellate
Division – First Department. The case involved the standards
utilized by the Police Pension Fund Medical Board in determining
whether uniformed members were disabled from police work and
qualified for a disability pension. Under an arcane law called
the “Safeguards Statute” the City, with the advice and support of
the Law Department, had moved to have the Pension Fund Medical Board
apply a new medical standard to injured officers seeking a
disability pension to determine if the officer was disabled from ANY
gainful employment. This unprecedented action would have led
to officers disabled from police work, but not completely disabled,
being placed in other City service outside of the Police Department
instead of being granted a disability pension. The CEA,
along with the other police unions, objected to this action as
contrary to past practice and authority of the pension fund.
The City sought to bypass the police union objections by opining
that the Law Department interpretation of the Safeguards Statute
supersedes the Pension Fund Board of Trustees. The CEA, as a
Trustee of the Pension Fund, commenced a lawsuit in NYS Supreme
Court challenging the Law Department’s opinion and its authority to
direct action of the Police Pension Fund. The initial Court
ruled against us and the CEA appealed to the First Department
Appellant Division who has now sided in our favor. In
the lawsuit titled “Roy T Richter, etc. –against- Michael A.
Cardozo, etc.” the Appellant Division reversed the lower court and
found the Board of Trustees is “empowered to differ with its counsel
on matters of statutory interpretation and reach its own position on
such questions.” “Indeed, the Board implicitly interprets the
governing statute with each of its individual determinations in the
regular course of business.” “[T]he proposition that [the Law
Department] interpretation of any statute always trumps the
interpretation of an agency is untenable and inconsistent with the
basic role of counsel.” It is unknown if the Law
Department intends to appeal this decision to the NYS Court of
Appeals. I will keep you updated on any
developments. Fraternally, Roy Roy T
Richter President NYPD Captains Endowment Association (212)
791-8292 |

|
October 19,
2014
IMPORTANT TAX NEWS FOR 9/11 VICTIMS |
Lou Hollander received this
information from Rick Rottkamp RH1040@aol.com
Hello all: After
several years of delays,the IRS has finally indicated that
compensation received as a direct result of 9/11 is tax free.
Please be advised that last month (September 2014) the
IRS updated Publication 3920 and included the
following:
Payments to Survivors
The following section discusses the tax treatment of certain
amounts received by survivors of the attacks and survivors of people
who died as a result of the attacks.
September 11th
Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 Payments from the
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 are not included in
income.
Disability Payments For tax years
ending after September 10, 2001, disability payments (including
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments) are not
included in income if they are for injuries incurred as a direct
result of a terrorist attack (including the September 11 attacks,
anthrax attacks, and Oklahoma City attack) directed against the
United States (or its allies). However, you must include in your
income any disability payments you received or you would have
received in retirement had you not become disabled as a result of a
terrorist attack.
Disability payments you receive for injuries not
incurred as a direct result of a terrorist attack or for illnesses
or diseases not resulting from an injury incurred as a direct result
of a terrorist attack cannot be excluded from your income under this
provision but may be excludable for other reasons. For details,
see Publication 907, Tax Highlights for Persons with
Disabilities. If you know anyone
receiving disability payments due to 9/11 please make sure they are
aware of this as it effects the taxability of both past and future
disability payments. Rick Richard H. Rottkamp, EA 466 Ashland Avenue Baldwin, NY 11510-2534 (516) 868-0023 Fax (516) 377-7712
Our
thanks to Lou and Richard for forwarding this important
information. |

|
July 25,
2014
IMPORTANT BENEFIT FOR RETIRED DETECTIVES |
We received the following from Paul
DiGiacomo, NYC DEA Vice President. The benefit is available
to all retired detective members for a co-pay of only $25 and for
all others, the price is discounted to $199.
NEW ENHANCED BENEFIT FOR DEA
RETIREES CARDIOVASCULAR AND THYROID NODULE SCREENING $25 COPAY
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2014
The DEA is proud to offer a new enhanced benefit to
all our retirees who would like to participate in the Heartscan
Services cardiovascular and thyroid nodule screening program.
THE COPAY FOR OUR RETIREES WILL BE $25, WITH THE DEA PAYING
THE DIFFERENCE OF $174. The DEA has discounted pricing
for all DEA active members and all DEA families of $199 (normally
the price is $300). This preventive
screening program focuses on identifying early stages of heart,
carotid (stroke), thyroid (nodules), and peripheral arterial disease
(early diabetes and hypertension ).
Recent clinical findings show an increase in
thyroid cancer and heart disease for 911 responders. Clinical
findings show thyroid cancer as the fastest increasing cancer in the
US and heart disease remaining as the #1 disease. Every 60 seconds
someone in the U.S. dies of a heart attack and every 40 seconds
someone has a stroke. These diseases are preventable if
detected and treated early. Most people are symptom free and
therefore most insurance companies will not cover the screens that
identify their risk factors.
Heartscan Services is a mobile company making it
convenient for all to take advantage of this program. For our
retirees, designated screening locations throughout the Metropolitan
and the Long Island areas will be assigned. Retirees can contact
Heartscan Services directly to inquire about the various locations
at 1-866-518-1112.
Heartscan Services is HIPAA compliant and all results are
strictly
confidential.
The DEA is excited to bring this valuable program to our retired
members and hope you will take advantage of this potentially
lifesaving screening. Please contact Heartscan
Services directly at 1-866-518-1112 to schedule appointment or our
Health Benefits office at 212-587-9120 if you have any
questions.
Fraternally,
Warm
Regards,
Michael J.
Palladino
Marilyn Martinucci, MBA DEA
President CEO/Founder
HeartScan Services Inc.
ABOUT THE SCREENING:
The preventive screening program is a simple, painless,
non-invasive, ultrasound assessment that can evaluate your risk for
early stages of heart, carotid (stroke), thyroid (nodules), and
peripheral arterial disease (early diabetes and hypertension ).
Echocardiogram or ECHO
An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves (no radiation
exposure) to create a moving picture of the heart. It shows
the function, size, shape and movement of the heart muscle.
This test can also show how the heart valves are working and how
blood is flowing through your heart, evaluating the pumping action
of the heart. Heart attacks a rising deadly weapon among cops-
July 29, 2013 (our data shows 55% of retired members needed follow
up) /Law Enforcement Officers More Likely to Suffer from Heart
Disease July 2013.
Carotid Doppler
The major goal of carotid ultrasound is to screen patients for
blockage or narrowing of their carotid arteries, which if present
may increase their risk of having a stroke. #3 disease for men
and women/ on average, one American dies from stroke every 4
minutes.
Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)
ABI is a simple, reliable means for diagnosing PAD (Peripheral
arterial disease). Individuals with a high Ankle-brachial index are
three to five times more likely to be at risk of heart
attacks. Identifies hypertension -67 million American adults
(31%) have high blood pressure—1 in every 3 American adults-
hypertension is extremely high among law enforcement and
increases their risk for heart disease and stroke.
Thyroid Ultrasound
This test uses sound waves to determine if a nodule is solid or a
fluid-filled cyst. (The risk of cancer is higher in solid
nodules.)This test also monitors the growth of nodules and it helps
find nodules that are difficult to feel. National data-
thyroid cancer fastest increasing cancer in the US / New York cops’
cancer rate soaring in wake of 9/11. Sept. 30, 2013
Paul
DiGiacomo Vice-President
Detectives' Endowment
Association, Inc. Police Department, City of New York 26
Thomas Street New York, NY 10007
Tel:
212-587-1000 Fax: 212-732-4863
pauldigiacomo@nycdetectives.org www.nycdetectives.org
|

|
July 6,
2014
IMPORTANT NEWS FOR WTC 911
VICTIMS |
Our thanks to Alan Berkowitz
for forwarding this impoartant information:
New York City Administrative Code(NEW)
§ 13-252.1 Accidental
disability retirement; World Trade Center
presumption.
1. (a) Notwithstanding any provisions of this code
or of any general, special or local law,
charter or rule or regulation to the contrary, if any
condition or impairment of health is
caused by a qualifying World Trade Center
condition as defined in section two of the
retirement and social security law, it shall
be presumptive evidence that it was incurred in the
performance and discharge of duty and
the natural and proximate result of an accident not
caused by such member's own willful negligence,
unless the contrary be proved by
competent evidence. (b)
The New York City Police Pension Fund (NYCPPF) board of
trustees is hereby authorized to promulgate rules
and regulations to implement the
provisions of this paragraph. 2.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of
this chapter or of any general, special or local
law, charter, administrative code or rule or
regulation to the contrary, if a member who participated in
World Trade Center rescue, recovery or cleanup operations
as defined in section two of the retirement and
social security law, and subsequently retired on a
service retirement, an ordinary disability
retirement, an accidental disability retirement, a
performance of duty disability retirement, or
was separated from service with a vested right to deferred
payability of a retirement allowance and
subsequent to such retirement or separation is determined
by the NYCPPF board of trustees to have a qualifying World
Trade Center condition, as defined in section two of the
retirement and social security
law, upon such determination by the NYCPPF board
of trustees, it shall be presumed that such disability was
incurred in the performance and discharge of duty as
the natural and proximate result of an accident not caused
by such member's own willful negligence, and that
the member would have been physically or mentally
incapacitated for the performance and discharge of duty of
the position from which he or she
retired or vested had the condition been known and
fully developed at the time of the member's
retirement or separation from service
with vested rights, unless the contrary is proven by
competent evidence. (b) The NYCPPF board
of trustees shall consider a reclassification of the
member's retirement or vesting as
an accidental disability
retirement effective as of the date of such
reclassification. (c) Such
member's retirement option shall not be changed as a
result of such reclassification.
(d) The member's former employer
at the time of the member's
retirement shall have an opportunity
to be heard on the member's
application for reclassification by
the NYCPPF board of trustees
according to procedures developed by the NYCPPF board of
trustees. (e) The NYCPPF
board of trustees is hereby authorized to promulgate rules
and regulations to implement the provisions of this
paragraph. 3. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this chapter or of
any general, special or local law, charter,
administrative code or rule or regulation to the contrary,
if a retiree or vestee who: (1) has met the
criteria of subdivision one of this section and retired on a
service or disability retirement, would have
met the criteria if not
already retired on an accidental disability, or was
separated from service with a vested right to deferred
payability of a retirement allowance; and (2) has not been
retired for more than twenty-five years; and (3) dies
from a qualifying World Trade Center condition, as
defined in section two of the retirement and social
security law, as determined by the applicable
head of the retirement system or applicable medical
board, then unless the contrary be proven by competent
evidence, such retiree or vestee
shall be deemed to have died as a natural
and proximate result of an accident sustained in the
performance of duty and not as a result
of willful negligence on his
or her part. Such retiree's or vestee's
eligible beneficiary, as set forth in section 13-244 of this
subchapter, shall be entitled to an accidental death
benefit as provided by section 13-244 of this
subchapter, however, for the purposes of determining the
salary base upon which the accidental death benefit is
calculated, the retiree or vestee shall be deemed to
have died on the date of his or her retirement
or separation from service with vested
rights. Upon the retiree's or vestee's death,
the eligible beneficiary shall make
a written application to the head of the retirement system
within the time for filing an application for
an accidental death benefit as set forth in section 13-244
of this subchapter requesting
conversion of such retiree's
service, vested right or disability retirement benefit to
an accidental death benefit. At the time of such
conversion, the eligible beneficiary
shall relinquish all rights to the
prospective benefits payable under the service or
disability retirement benefit, or vested
right to such benefit, including any
post-retirement death benefits, since the retiree's or
vestee's death. If the eligible beneficiary
is not the only beneficiary
receiving or entitled to receive a benefit under the
service or disability retirement benefit (including, but
not limited to, post-retirement death benefits
or benefits paid or payable pursuant to the retiree's
option selection), or that will be
eligible under the vested right,
the accidental death benefit payments to the eligible
beneficiary
wil
l be reduced by any amounts paid or payable to
any other beneficiary. 4. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this code or of any general, special or
local law, charter, or rule or regulation to the contrary,
if a member who: (1) has
met the criteria of subdivision one of this
section; (2) dies in active service or after
separating from service with a
vested right to deferred payability of a retirement
allowance, but prior to the payability of that retirement
allowance; and (3) dies from a
qualifying World Trade Center condition, as defined in
section two of the retirement and social security
law, as determined by the
applicable head of the retirement system or applicable medical
board to have been caused by such member's
participation in the World Trade
Center rescue, recovery or cleanup operations, as defined in section
two of the retirement and social security law,
then unless the contrary be proven by competent evidence,
such member shall be deemed to have died
as a natural and proximate
result of an accident sustained in the
performance of duty and not as a result of willful negligence on
his or her part. Such member's
eligible beneficiary, as set forth in section 13-244 of
this subchapter, shall be entitled to an
accidental death benefit provided he or she
makes written application to the head of the retirement
system within the time for filing an
application for an accidental
death benefit as set forth in
section 13-244 of this
subchapter. |

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April 7,
2012 NYPD DEA DENTAL BENEFITS UPGRADED FOR FLORIDA
RETIREES |
Click on this link for the complete
information: images/DEA FL Dental Benefits.jpg |

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March 24,
2012
IMPORTANT UPDATE TO PBA DRUG
PLAN |
In case you haven't received the letter from the
NYPD PBA dated February 23rd, the announcement is that the
prescription drug plan lifetime cap for eligible retirees of
$120,000 has been eliminated. Any eligible member who has exceeded
the lifetime cap in the past is now eligible for prescription
drug coverage as of March 1, 2012.
The annual cap still remains in effect and any
questions can be answered at Caremark Customer Care at 877-722-7911
or at the PBA Funds Office at 212-349-7560. |

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December 8,
2011
INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR
DD-214 |
This info just came to me from my good friend
Mike Maurer. Ret. NYPD & US Army. It may help someone out there,
so forward it to your friends.
Ret. Sgt. Tom
Moriarty.
Please pass on to other vets. It's official:
DD-214 discharge papers are NOW ONLINE. The
National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following
website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214s online:
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/
This may be particularly helpful when a veteran
needs a copy of his/her DD-214 for employment purposes. NPRC is
working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet
access to obtain copies of documents from their military files.
Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased
former military members may now use a new online military personnel
records system to request documents.
Other individuals with a need for documents must
still complete the Standard Form 180, which can be downloaded from
the online web site. Because the requester will be asked to supply
all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays
that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional
information will be minimized. The new web-based application was
designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating
the records centers mailroom and processing time.
Please pass this information on to former military
personnel you may know and their dependents. |

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October 16,
2011
STEPS TO TAKE UPON DEATH OF
RETIREE |
We received this useful information from
Lou Hollander:
As you are well aware of, I, unfortunately have
been sending out obituary notices for retired and active MOS.
This unpleasant task seems to be happening more often. It
seems when this happens, the family is so overwhelmed they don’t
realize what notifications have to be made.
With the assistance of Bobby
Ganley, NYPD SBA, Bill Larney, NYPD LBA
and the NYPD SOC, I compiled some information that may be very
helpful to your loved ones should the situation arise. If I have
overlooked something of importance, please let me know and I will
update this list. I have attached the list as a .doc
file. You will need to have MS Word installed on your PC to
open it to view or print. If you don’t have MS Word, you can
download a free MS Word viewer http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=4 With this program you can view and print Word
documents. If you want, I can send you the file in .pdf
format, which will allow you to view and print as long as you have
Adobe Reader installed on your PC. It may be a good idea to
print this out and store with your important papers.
Click here for the
attachment Lou sent describing the procedures to
follow. |

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October 4,
2012
20 YEAR GUARANTEED
PENSION BILL SIGNED INTO LAW |
This was taken from the LBA web page. A letter
written by LBA President Tommy Sullivan, (Proud to call one of
our own), to his membership regarding the guaranteed 20 year
pension. Please click on the link below.
Guaranteed Pension
Bill I am pleased to report
that Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has signed the "Guaranteed Pension
after 20 Years of Service" bill into LAW!
This new law amends the New York City Administrative
Code to protect uniformed police and fire officers, with 20 or more
years of service, from losing their pensions if they are fired.
Click here --->to read the letter from LBA
President Tom Sullivan (PDF)
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