Massachusetts state workers benefits?

Question

My 30-year-old sister will complete 10 full-time years working for the State of Massachusetts very soon. She says that once she reaches 10 years working for the state, she is able to go to any employer she wants (even a private company) and MA will cover her health insurance for the rest of her life.

Does anyone know if this is true, or does my sister have her facts mixed up? It seems really strange to me that the state would cover her health insurance for possibly the next 50+ years just because she worked for them for 10 years.

Answer 1

Yes, its true, I'm about 6 months away myself. While they wont cover 100% of the insurance at 10 years if she is under 65, they will cover a large percent, I think 80%. But, only after retirenment, unless it states otherwise in her contract.  If she stays there for 20 years, she'll have complete coverage. She also will collect her retirenment from the state, regardless if she still works there at that time or not. Your retirnment is based on years of service, and you are not eligable to get it until you hit the 10 year mark (unless you leave, and you get whatever you paid into it, minus penalties for early withdrawl), but you pay into it the whole time. However, she will not be eligable for socail security during her time as a MA state employee, as we do not pay into it, thats why we have pensions. She will not be eligable for medicare when she gets older, as that is a social security benefit, to which she is not entitled as a state worker - thats why they pay for health insurance for her.

Answer 2

Great website, resourceful,user-friendly should be able to answer your questions.http://health-insurance.online-tips4u.in...

Answer 3

Yep, your tax dollars at work.  The best benefits, will ALWAYS go to the government workers.  No accountability, either.

Just goes to show you, you're paying too much in taxes, in MA.