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Published 6:10 pm, Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Keep clicking to see a gallery of the best and worst states for retirement:
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Photo: Hinterhaus Productions, Getty Creative Stock
10. Rhode Island
Affordability rank: 51
Quality of life rank: 46
Health care rank: 29
Source: WalletHub
10. Rhode Island
Affordability rank: 51
Quality of life rank: 46
Health care rank: 29
Source: WalletHub
9. Alaska
Affordability rank: 38
Quality of life rank: 50
Health care rank: 44
Source: WalletHub
9. Alaska
Affordability rank: 38
Quality of life rank: 50
Health care rank: 44
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Getty Images File Photo
8. Washington DC
Affordability rank: 44
Quality of life rank: 51
Health care rank: 9
Source: WalletHub
8. Washington DC
Affordability rank: 44
Quality of life rank: 51
Health care rank: 9
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Getty Images
7. Connecticut
Affordability rank: 49
Quality of life rank: 13
Health care rank: 15
Source: WalletHub
7. Connecticut
Affordability rank: 49
Quality of life rank: 13
Health care rank: 15
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Getty Images
6. Hawaii
Affordability rank: 50
Quality of life rank: 34
Health care rank: 3
Source: WalletHub
6. Hawaii
Affordability rank: 50
Quality of life rank: 34
Health care rank: 3
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Getty Images
5. New Jersey
Affordability rank: 41
Quality of life rank: 27
Health care rank: 35
Source: WalletHub
5. New Jersey
Affordability rank: 41
Quality of life rank: 27
Health care rank: 35
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Getty Images
4. New Mexico
Affordability rank: 36
Quality of life rank: 41
Health care rank: 39
Source: WalletHub
4. New Mexico
Affordability rank: 36
Quality of life rank: 41
Health care rank: 39
Source: WalletHub
Photo: MoMo Productions/Getty Images
3. Vermont
Affordability rank: 48
Quality of life rank: 10
Health care rank: 12
Source: WalletHub
3. Vermont
Affordability rank: 48
Quality of life rank: 10
Health care rank: 12
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Tom Merton/Getty Images/Caiaimage
2. Kentucky
Affordability rank: 16
Quality of life rank: 45
Health care rank: 49
Source: WalletHub
2. Kentucky
Affordability rank: 16
Quality of life rank: 45
Health care rank: 49
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
1. Arkansas
Affordability rank: 17
Quality of life rank: 48
Health care rank: 45
Source: WalletHub
1. Arkansas
Affordability rank: 17
Quality of life rank: 48
Health care rank: 45
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Lee Edwards/Getty Images/Caiaimage
10. Wisconsin
Affordability rank: 33
Quality of life rank: 5
Health care rank: 4
Source: WalletHub
10. Wisconsin
Affordability rank: 33
Quality of life rank: 5
Health care rank: 4
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Resolution Productions/Getty Images/Blend Images
9. Delaware
Affordability rank: 10
Quality of life rank: 40
Health care rank: 25
Source: WalletHub
9. Delaware
Affordability rank: 10
Quality of life rank: 40
Health care rank: 25
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Getty Images
8. Nevada
Affordability rank: 6
Quality of life rank: 9
Health care rank: 42
Source: WalletHub
8. Nevada
Affordability rank: 6
Quality of life rank: 9
Health care rank: 42
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Peathegee Inc/Getty Images/Blend Images
7. South Carolina
Affordability rank: 7
Quality of life rank: 37
Health care rank: 33
Source: WalletHub
7. South Carolina
Affordability rank: 7
Quality of life rank: 37
Health care rank: 33
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Kevin Dodge/Getty Images/Blend Images
6. Idaho
Affordability rank: 14
Quality of life rank: 31
Health care rank: 16
Source: WalletHub
6. Idaho
Affordability rank: 14
Quality of life rank: 31
Health care rank: 16
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Svetikd/Getty Images
5. Colorado
Affordability rank: 27
Quality of life rank: 17
Health care rank: 7
Source: WalletHub
5. Colorado
Affordability rank: 27
Quality of life rank: 17
Health care rank: 7
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Stuart Villanueva, AP Photo/The Galveston County Daily News, Stuart Villanueva
Photo: Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images/Blend Images
3. South Dakota
Affordability rank: 15
Quality of life rank: 33
Health care rank: 2
Source: WalletHub
3. South Dakota
Affordability rank: 15
Quality of life rank: 33
Health care rank: 2
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Laflor/Getty Images
2. Wyoming
Affordability rank: 4
Quality of life rank: 25
Health care rank: 19
Source: WalletHub
2. Wyoming
Affordability rank: 4
Quality of life rank: 25
Health care rank: 19
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Image Source/Getty Images/Image Source
1. Florida
Affordability rank: 1
Quality of life rank: 11
Health care rank: 24
Source: WalletHub
1. Florida
Affordability rank: 1
Quality of life rank: 11
Health care rank: 24
Source: WalletHub
Photo: Sean Gallup, Getty Images
The Texas Legislature is mired in the budget process, which comes with its own special angst.
But what really has retired Texas teachers on edge is talk about impending increases in their health insurance premiums.
The subject, of course, is closely related to the state budget, so retirees’ concerns may not be quickly assuaged. And the looming crisis did not develop overnight.
Last week, State Comptroller Glenn Hagar laid out the problem in a special edition of his periodic newsletter, Fiscal Notes. Mincing no words, Hagar flat-out states that retired teachers’ premiums could triple, starting Sept. 1.
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In a footnote, Hagar attributes the information to testimony March 30, 2016, from Tim Lee, executive director of Texas Retired Teachers Association before the Texas Joint Committee to study TRS Health Benefit Plans.”TRS” refers to Teacher Retirement System.
TRS-Care is a self-funded program, established in 1985, to provide health care benefits for Texas public school retirees, according to Fiscal Notes. As of Aug. 31, the program covered about 261,500 retirees, dependents and surviving spouses, the newsletter states.
“TRS-Care faces a large and growing shortfall,” Hagar states in the newsletter’s special edition. “In the absence of supplemental appropriations or changes to the plan’s design, retiree premiums could triple starting on Sept. 1, 2017.”
Whether it comes to that remains to be seen, with a few legislative proposals under discussion.
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The $106.3 billion budget approved unanimously by the Texas Senate on Tuesday included $316 million to stabilize the Teachers Retirement Fund.
The 2015 Legislature created the Joint Committee to Study TRS Health Benefit Plans, which presented some proposals in a November report. The proposals include:
– Health reimbursement accounts that would provide pre-Medicare retirees with $400 a month to purchase health insurance or pay for medical expenses.
– High deductible of $4,000 for in-network expenses for pre-Medicare retirees, with an estimated cost of $430 monthly for a retiree-only plan.
– Medicare Advantage plan would be the only one available to Medicare-eligible retirees through TRS-Care. These retirees would be expected to enroll in Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D for prescription drug benefits.
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