“The medical insurance might be at risk should the government not pay its share for employees’ insurance premium,” he said.
Last week, he said they had a membership meeting and the concern about payless paydays was discussed.
The Retirement Fund is paying Aetna the medical insurance premiums of the retirees.
But the government also has to pay its share. Otherwise, the retirees’ medical insurance will not be accepted by medical providers or drug companies, Sablan said.
The insurance policy with Aetna might be cancelled, he added.
“If that situation occurs, it will be very devastating to the retirees,” he said.
Sablan has informed Gov. Benigno R. Fitial about the concerns of the retirees.
He asked the governor to insure that the government continues to pay its share of the medical insurance premiums.
“Lots of retirees need medical attention to see a doctor and to refill their drug prescriptions,” he said.
Sablan also discussed with Retirement Fund Chairman Sixto Igisomar the concerns of the retirees.
Sablan said Igisomar admitted that the pensions for the retirees might be affected because the Retirement Fund was not included on the governor’s list of “essential government services.”
Igisomar, he said, told him that the Retirement Fund is asking the governor to consider it as an essential agency.
Sablan noted that “large portions of funds to pay the pensions for retirees are income generated from investments made by the Retirement Fund.”
