RECOM Blog

The Employee Health & Wellness Center move date is April 7.  Closure to move and set-up is April 3 & 4.  

During this time, we will still be available by phone at 480-644-9355 if you need to reach us.

Our new address on April 7 is: 59 S. Hibbert, Mesa, AZ 85210  (cross streets: 1st Ave & Hibbert)

We will begin seeing patients at our new location starting Monday, April 7. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. 

Lynn Shumway – Former longtime RECOM member Lynn Shumway passed away on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at the age of 101.  Lynn had been RECOM’s oldest retiree and had also been the City’s oldest retiree.  Lynn retired in 1983 as an Electric Meter Technician in Utilities, with 19 years of service.

Lynn’s funeral service will be Friday, March 28, 2025 at 11 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 4640 E. Holmes Ave., Mesa.  A viewing at 10 AM will precede the service.

Here is a link to Lynn’s obituary:  https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/lynn-shumway-obituary?id=57916117

RECOM member Richard Stauder passed away on Sunday, February 9, 2025.  Richard retired from Information Services as an Office Automation Analyst II, after 11 years of service.  No services are planned, but here is a link to Richard's obituary:

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/mesa-az/richard-stauder-12242545

On February 25, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that the SSA has begun to pay retroactive benefits and will increase monthly benefit payments to individuals whose Social Security benefits had been reduced by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law on January 5, 2025, repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) applicable to workers, and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) applicable to workers’ surviving spouses, with respect to monthly benefits payable in or after 2024.

Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

The WEP reduced the primary insurance amount of a government worker who has wages covered by Social Security and who also has a pension based in whole or in part on their own earnings from employment not covered by Social Security. Note: Some states do not require Social Security payments or wage reductions for certain professions (e.g., police officers, firefighters, teachers).

·         The repeal of the WEP means that retired federal workers and other public servants who spent part of their career working in the private sector (and accordingly received wages that were subject to Social Security withholding) will not have their benefits reduced with respect to monthly benefits payable in or after 2024.

Government Pension Offset (GPO)

The GPO reduced a surviving spouse’s Social Security benefit if the deceased worker had also received a federal, state or local pension based on earnings from non-covered government employment.

·         The repeal of the GPO means that a surviving spouse of an applicable deceased participant will not have their Social Security benefit decreased with respect to monthly benefits payable in or after 2024.

For more information login to the RECOMAZ.org website, click the Info header, then Social Security WEP and GPO web page or

For addition information on WEP or GPO from SSA, sign into your Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. At the top of the page are two banners: one for setting up an appointment for SSA and the other banner “information about the Social Security Fairness Act (WEP & GPO)”.  Most questions can be answered with the FAQs located here.

Follow these 3 tips to protect yourself from Medicare fraud and scams:

1. If you get a call, text or email asking for your Medicare Number, don't respond. Don't give your Medicare card or Medicare Number to anyone except your doctor or people you know should have it.

2. Check your Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) or claims statements carefully. If you see a charge for a service you didn't get or a product you didn't order, it may be fraud. If you suspect fraud, report it at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or Reporting Medicare fraud & abuse | Medicare. 

3. Guard your Medicare card like it's a credit card.

Visit Medicare.gov, the official source for Medicare information, to learn more about preventing Medicare fraud and medical identity theft.

Tips to help support a healthy back during the day:

Move your muscles – Stretch regularly, take standing or walking breaks every 30 minutes, hold walking meetings and always take the stairs. Practice better posture – Adjust your chair so your knees are about level with your hips, keep your wrists straight and hands at or below elbow level, and sit about an arm’s length from your monitor. Try a standing desk – They can help you burn more calories than sitting, help loosen your muscles and reduce back pain, and even boost your productivity.

Stretches You Can Do at Home or Work

• Surepay deductions occur on the 10^th of the month unless it is a non-business day or holiday.
• This will occur 3 more times in 2025
• Loof for and review Annual Open Enrollment newsletter each September
• Take note of changes, including cost
• Contact Employee Benefits Office 480-644-2299 or benefits.info@mesaaz.ogv to update contact information – address, email, phone number.

If you've changed your emailor mailing address and have not communicated that information to the City of Mesa Employee Benefits office, you might be missing important information pertaining to your benefits. 

Of course RECOM tries to ensure general benefits information is passed along to our members timely, but specific informaiton may go only to you and might be missed for lack of a current address.  

To notify the Benefits office of email or address updates, contact Jean Bettis at 480-644-6706.  She will be able to assist you!

At the Annual Benefits Meeting in September, members mentioned still receiving Explanations of Benefit (EOBs) from VibrantRx despite having requested the paperless option.  As of November 18, 2024, the problem still exists for some of us.  VibrantRx is attempting to correct the software issue and hopes to have a resolution by the end of this year.  If RECOM learns the problem has been corrected, we will post that information for our members.

I am among those experiencing this problem and have been corresponding with Erica Navarro in Employee Benefits.  If the issue persists into January, I will follow-up with Erica again.

Take advantage of your free dental visits – prioritize your oral health and schedule your appointments today! 

Our Delta Dental Plans now include three free cleanings per year!