PAX Centurion - March / April 2013

Page 30 • PAX CENTURION • March/April 2013 617-989-BPPA (2772) THE LAW FIRM OF SCOTT D. GOLDBERG, P.C. Assisting and Representing Police Officers Since 1990 Proudly Supports the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association SCOTT D. GOLDBERG, ESQ. FANEUIL HALL 4 SOUTH MARKETPLACE BOSTON, MA 02109 617-227-1888 www.goldberglawfirm.net Did you know that in many situations, as a Boston Police Officer, if you are injured on-duty you may still be entitled to additional money for lost wages including detail and overtime pay, disability, and for pain and suffering? Did you know that even if you were injured while in a department cruiser or unmarked vehicle, whether you are able to collect this compensation is often determined by what insurance coverage you have on your own personal vehicle? And did you know that this money may be available even if you were injured in a hit-and-run incident,or from a crash involving a stolen vehicle, or even as a pedestrian? Over 20 years, Scott Goldberg has become the trusted attorney for many members of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association.Attorney Goldberg has won and settled cases recovering compensation for police officers from allAreas and Departments.We provide free consultations and offer BPPA members and their families a 10% discount off legal fees.We don’t charge by the hour or by retainer, and all of our legal fees are contingent upon recovering money for our client. So, who’s going to protect you? If you have been injured within the past few years, on-duty or off, contact Attorney Goldberg to learn what rights to recovery you may have. If, thankfully, you have not been injured, but want to find out how you can protect yourself by having the right insurance, call Attorney Goldberg for free advice. retirees and future retirees.You younguns will be there soon enough. It’s something to be concerned about and we all can do something about it, in as far as, voting or electing the right people to offices or boards. The special commission on retiree health care recently released a report on their findings which was beneficial to retirees. It had the backing of Gov. Deval Patrick and 11 of the 12 members of the commission. Remember this is only a recommendation and has to be enacted on by the House and Senate. As it now stands this has a good chance to be enacted but don’t spend the money yet. Stranger things have happened in the past. On another note, Billy Flippin asked me if I had any funny stories about my Florida vacation. For the most part, the weather was not very cooperative. We had jackets on for the most of my two weeks but the one consolation was “no snow”. Getting back to the real rea- son for our visit to Hallandale, FL was to visit the local thoroughbred track (Gulfstream) to wager on the speed of a beast. It seems “some- where along the way” (sounds like a song title sung by Nat King Cole) I forgot one of my handicapping tools and alas I almost took a goose egg for the trip. The mutual clerk informed me he would keep my dineros in a pile for me to collect next year. Remember you horse players… you can beat a race but not the races. In past years, I spend one week over the east coast and one week From the Retiree’s Corner From Retirees on page 29 on the west coast. This year it got a little mixed up and I did not see my west coast friends in the Naples and Fort Myers area. Speaking of which one of them is my friend and fellow BPD retiree Eddie Kelly. He is also an attorney in that area, should you need an attorney for any reason just give him a call. That’s all for now and a reminder to support our advertisers in the Pax. Be safe, J.T.B. P.S. I couldn’t let an article go by without mentioning Big Mike. Sorry you were not around as a result there are no tales to tell. Mandatory Medicare T here are still approximately 550 retirees who have not responded to the city’s letters regarding mandatory Medicare. Members were supposed to register with Medicare this time last year and find out whether or not they were eligible. Eligible members were to come of active plans and go into Medicare with a City subsidized supplement. Non-eligible retirees would get documentation to that ef- fect fromMedicate and stay in an active plan. Kathy McGinnis and her team are trying to contact those folks by whatever means. The city has been carrying these folks for almost a year in violation of the healthcare reform laws. At some point (I’d say by this time next year) the city will cancel their insurance. That means no claims get paid. All retirees at or approaching age 65 needs to establish their Medicare eligibility. Even if that person “knows” they’re not eligible, they need to document it. Next Retired Patrolmen’s Division Meeting Thursday, May 2 at 1 pm BPPA Union Hall