August has turned out to be a very busy month for ASURA and while an August Enews is unusual there are several news items I wanted to share with you immediately.

Keep Your ASU Outlook! Email seminars canceled.

Great news from the University Technology Office (UTO)!  They have realized how difficult it would be for us retirees to make a change away from ASU Outlook. So they have notified us that there are no plans (and there will be no plans) to close ASU Outlook/Exchange accounts for anyone who retired from ASU prior to July 1, 2019. They will continue to transition new retirees off of ASU Outlook/Exchange, except for emeritus/emerita faculty who will be able to retain their accounts regardless of when they retire.

As a result, we are canceling the seminars “Email and Leaving ASU Outlook” that were scheduled for September 26 and 27. Those seminars were intended primarily to help with a transition away from ASU Outlook that is now not necessary.

We are so glad that our association was able to make the case with the UTO, and that the UTO was so responsive. After all, it is key to our mission to advocate for retirees.

Thank you for your feedback on this issue, and for your patience while we got things sorted out.

For those who may be interested, you can find information about Email for Retirees on our website in the Retirement Info menu, under Technology for Retirees

Connie McNeill

Important information for ADOA-insured retirees:

The Governor's Regulatory Review Council (GRRC) is considering a rule change (R2-6-105) that could impact retirees with ADOA medical or dental insurance. The proposed rule would eliminate the opportunity to obtain coverage under a plan if you have not had continuous coverage with that specific plan since retirement.

If you are enrolled in an ASRS Medical plan but have kept ADOA Dental coverage so that both plans would be available for comparison to you annually, this rule change could eliminate that option.

The GRRC meets again on September 4, when the rule change will likely be considered. Tara Roesler will be attending this meeting to get clarification of the impact, if any, on those already retired.

For more information on how this rule change could affect you, or to object to the change, contact Scott Bender at ADOA, 602-542-4048.