More than 2,100 Alabama public workers retiring Dec. 1 to save on insurance costs

MONTGOMERY, Al.
More than 2,100 public employees will retire Dec 1 to avoid paying more for health insurance as retirees.
The deputy director of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, Marc Reynolds, said 2,140 employees had their retirement papers postmarked by Tuesday's deadline. That includes 1,660 education employees. The pension system doesn't have a breakdown on how many are teachers who will be leaving their classrooms midyear.
Gov. Robert Bentley says a system has been worked out for them to suspend their retirement benefits and work through the end of school on temporary contracts, if they wish.
A new state law requires public employees retiring after Dec. 1 to pay more for their health insurance if they have served 25 years or longer but aren't yet 65 years old and eligible for Medicare.