Suzanne Laird's speech to STRS Board, September 16, 2021

From Suzanne Laird

September 17, 2021

I need to preface my remarks by stating that I will abide by your absurd rule regarding not naming individuals; although, WHY any person in this room, or in the building should NOT beheld to account for his/her actions, I do not understand.

But I will conform to your censorship by employing a pseudonym, which, if you are well read,you will recognize, and perhaps it will prompt this consider revisiting that ridiculous “rule.”

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My name is Suzanne Laird, and I retired after more than 30 years of teaching and more than 7 years of substitute teaching in retirement. 

Transparency. 

I think we are all well aware of how a lack of transparency has affected this Board’s ability to make wise financial choices on behalf of the membership of STRS. Today, I would like to inform you that a lack of transparency has also affected your knowledge of how the membership’s health benefits have deteriorated, especially for those of us under the age of 65, when Medicare benefits begin. 

I was inspired by the brave lady who took the time to speak to you last month, regarding the fact that women’s ANNUAL Pap tests are only covered every THREE years. And that this new policy, which began THIS January, 2021, covertly contains a “look back” period, prior to this calendar year. 

That’s not transparency. 

Oh, but men? Your prostate exam? You’ll be relieved to know, that’s covered completely, every year. Discriminate much?  

The brave lady revealed that although she appealed this new policy to the Chief Benefits Officer, He Who Must Not Be Named, she received no reasonable response.  

I, myself, appealed to He Who Must Not Be Named, aka, Lord Voldemort, regarding the decision to restrict colonoscopies to ONE every 10 years, even though colon cancer rates are skyrocketing. Voldemort referred me to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Ever heard of them? Me, neither.  

I asked different doctors what they knew about the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. I looked it up online: It is a group of volunteers, not necessarily medical experts, who exist to help employers restrict and deny benefits, based on the most conservative parameters.  

Transparency?

Oh, you’d like an annual physical? Any conscientious doctor might want to draw blood to prevent you from suffering from diabetes or high cholesterol, but that’s gonna cost you: blood work is no longer considered preventive.  

NONE of these changes were communicated to the members PRIOR to implementation: all that the retirees received was a vaguely worded postcard in FEBRUARY, suggesting they might want to search online for “some” changes.  

We all know the Affordable Care Act, which provided so many life saving preventive care services, has, sadly, been diluted over the last four years. But if you were listening carefully at the April Board meeting, you heard one astute Board member, let’s call him Atticus Finch, question why our Chief Benefits Officer was proposing an increase in the pharmacy deductible when the Health Care fund is at almost 200%. Voldemort tried to slip that one by you all, stating, “Well, we don’t try to match the ACA Gold plan, we try to match the Silver plan.”All for only 438 dollars PER MONTH, and it’s going up AGAIN this year, for pre Medicare retirees!  

I don’t envy you your jobs. This lack of transparency and accountability is infuriating to watch, month after month.

I thank God we have Scout here now, starting today, to help our Atticus.