Monthly premiums likely to affect retirement living


Retirement living could become complicated for some in Illinois on Thursday, as retired state workers will have to begin paying monthly premiums if they want to keep their dental insurance.


There are about 76,000 retired people in the state who have the dental plan and five percent of them are going to cancel their coverage, according to The State Journal-Register, a newspaper in Springfield.


Susan Hofer, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services (CMS), said that five percent is what her office had expected.


Monthly premiums likely to affect retirement living This percentage represents about 4,000 people.


The premium for those who have decided to keep their dental insurance is $11 for a state retiree, $17 with a dependent and $19.50 with two or more dependents. Hofer told the newspaper that she thought it was a good deal, though she understands some had to opt out for financial reasons, but that her office tried to persuade them not to.


"We advised our retired members not to drop this coverage," she told the news provider.


Retirees may be interested to know that the Illinois Department on Aging could receive up to $200,000 for the Lifespan Respite Care Program, which provides emergency care for people with special needs such as seniors.


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