The Retired Program is open to any retired educator who has reached the age of 55 and who is eligible to receive benefits from a school employee retirement system and who was employed for at least five years in a position that qualified for membership in NSEA. Retired Americans are more affected than are others by increases in the cost of living, threats to Social Security and Medicare, earnings on their retirement accounts, the rising costs of health care, changes in tax rates, and fair housing practices. The Retired organizations advocate for retirees on these issues. The Retired Program brings retired members the news they need to remain well informed in local, state, and national developments affecting public schools and school employees and their economic well-being. Every OEA-Retired member automatically receives the NSEA Voice, NSEA-Retired Advocate, NEA Today for NEA-Retired Members, and OEA-Retired Voices of Experience once he/she joins the local, state, and national associations. Members may be called on to help with lobbying issues directly affecting retirees. Our member services programs can save you more than the cost of membership. So why not join today?

OEA-Retired is unified with NSEA-Retired and NEA-Retired. Annual members currently pay $70 per year ($35 for NEA-Retired, $25 for NSEA-Retired, and $10 for OEA-Retired). You can become a pre-retired lifetime member of all three organizations at any time before you retire by making a one-time payment of $600 ($300 for NEA-Retired, $200 for NSEA-Retired, and $100 for OEA-Retired). Life members do not pay annual dues. Retired ESP employees from OPS pay $56 in annual dues, and $360 in lifetime dues for all three organizations.

Annual dues are paid by individuals who are retired and no longer working for a school district. Annual members are billed each August for the dues for all three retired organizations, NEA-Retired, NSEA-Retired, and OEA-Retired. Annual dues can increase over time. Individuals who are still working for a school district can become pre-retired, lifetime subscribers to all three organizations at any age by paying a one-time membership fee of $600. They will never pay any annual dues once they become lifetime subscribers, and their dues are “locked in” at the dues rate that was in effect at the time they joined as lifetime subscribers. Individuals who join as pre-retired lifetime subscribers must continue to pay active association dues while they are still employed by a school district. If active membership is dropped for any reason, so is your lifetime subscriber status. When lifetime subscribers actually retire, their active dues are suspended and their memberships in the retired organizations become activated. If they return to work for a school district after retiring, their retired status is suspended and they must again join as an active member of NEA/NSEA to get member benefits. Pre-retired members enjoy all member benefits once they retire.

By becoming an OEA-Retired member, you will be part of a united action group that is devoted to improving the welfare of retired and active school employees, and the goals of public education. Through OEA-Retired, you can remain active in your retired years. This collective membership makes for more effective lobbying and advocacy for retirement benefit enhancements and public education issues. Membership provides retirees access to valuable member benefits and services that are available to active association members—including access to NEA Member Benefits Programs. Lifetime members receive the Retirement Planning Guide from NEA-Retired, a comprehensive guide for retirement planning. Representation—The National Education Association and its more than 3.2 million members is your advocate for the rights of all educational employees, active, and retired. NEA-Retired members are eligible to become active participants in NEA’s congressional contact and political action teams. Involvement—Members elect their own officers, as well as elect representatives to the NSEA Delegate Assembly, NEA Representative Assembly, and NEA Board of Directors. Membership in NEA-Retired enables you to keep your active involvement in key governance positions. Member Care Program—Members have access to a portfolio of health insurance plans including NSEA-Retired Educators’ Medicare Supplement with optional dental insurance. NEA-Retired members are provided liability insurance if they choose to substitute in the schools after retirement.

Between ages 50 and 64, retired members who were part of the Educators Health Alliance (EHA) BC/BS group at retirement can retain BC/BS coverage by returning the membership forms to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska by the deadline on the forms. You can choose from among the four insurance options available to retirees and spouses, and can choose two single policies if you are married and need coverage for only two individuals. When you turn 65 and are eligible for Medicare, you can choose Educators’ Medicare Supplement with optional dental coverage to pay your Medicare-eligible expenses. Educators’ Medicare Supplement is underwritten by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Nebraska, and is endorsed by NSEA-Retired. You can learn more by clicking on the Insurance tab on this webpage. Current rates for EHA coverage for retirees can be found on the EHA website www.ehaplan.org. Click on the RETIREES tab at the top of the page.

Yes, OEA-Retired, NSEA-Retired, and NEA-Retired membership is unified. The Retired Program is open to any retired educator who has reached the age of 55 and who is eligible to receive benefits from a school employee retirement system and who was employed for at least five years in a position that qualified for membership in NSEA.

NSEA-Retired holds two conferences each year. Several special-interest sessions and general sessions are scheduled for each conference, and members have the opportunity to give direction to the Association for the coming year. All retired members are eligible to participate in these conferences. Notice of the conferences is provided in the NSEA-Retired Advocate, and on the NSEA-Retired website. www.nsea.org/retired.

NEA-Retired members are eligible to enroll in a wide range of unique programs available from NEA Member Benefits. Details are available at www.neamb.com. Home owners and renters insurance National credit card service Car rental discounts Magazine and book discount purchasing service Long-term care insurance Group life insurance Medicare Supplemental Insurance Travel discounts Investor Services

Call NSEA Membership Services at 1-800-742-0047