Announcement from Martha Deahl, NRLN VP-Grassroot
Important: CTL/Lumen no longer provides MetLife Dental insurance effective January 1st, 2026!
I’m getting calls from chapter members who are now going to their dentist and finding out they no longer have dental insurance. I know because it happened to me! We did get notice from Lumen, but the change is listed on Page 24 of the attached 2026 Retirement Enrollment Guide at: https://www.lumenbenefits.com/pdf/002241.pdf
If you want to keep your MetLife dental plan, 1. contact MetLife at https://www.metlifetakealongdental.com/ or call TakeAlong Dental at 844-263-8336 option 2. You may have to call the MetLife number on the back of your old dental card. Do not call CenturyLink.
Also, don’t forget to have your friends join the NRLN AZ Chapter or the New Mexico Chapter. We are losing so many members due to the passing of our friends. We need to keep informed because the NRLN is constantly working to protect your earned benefits. Have your friends access www.nrln.org and join to receive free emails.
Thanks to those of you who support the NRLN with your annual contribution.
Martha Deahl,
NRLN AZ Chapter President,
NRLN VP Grassroots
To: NRLN AZ Chapter Members
Subject: CTL/LUMEN Concession
From: Martha Deahl,
NRLN AZ Chapter President,
NRLN VP Grassroots
I recently had the need to move my concession service to a different location after I moved. I discovered I was using old information and didn’t think I would be able to keep my concession service. I am definitely pleased to say that I was able to keep my CTL landline at my new location. I’m concerned for all of you who may have wrong information, as I did.
Please use the following link to learn how to apply for or transfer your existing concession service. I am including a help line number if you have any questions.
Employee and Retiree Concessions
The number I called was 800-659-3279. The CTL Representative was very knowledgeable and helpful.
Another option is (800) 729-7526, the Lumen Health and Life service center.
Best Option – Email: emp.disc@Centurylink.com. State your question or issue with as much detail as you can and ask them to get back to you.
About the Arizona Chapter
The NRLN Arizona Chapter was organized under the NRLN’s chapter structure in January 2013. The Arizona Chapter was originally established to reach out to US West/Qwest/CenturyLink retirees who were members of their retirement organization (TRA/AUSWR-AZ), which disbanded. In fact, many of the Board Members from TRA-AZ became leaders of the NRLN Arizona Chapter: Martha Deahl, Susan Olson, and Ken and Jennifer Gornall.
The Chapter also welcomes members from other companies and public entities as long as they are not already members of an NRLN Association (see Member Associations under “about us” at www.nrln.org. Retirees who become NRLN Chapter members will receive NRLN Action Alerts on federal legislation that impacts their retirement income security and reduce healthcare cost.
All AZ Chapter members are advocates belonging to the NRLN Grassroots Organization Network. Some NRLN AZ Grassroots’ advocates volunteer to become AZ Congressional District Advocates and make local visits to their respective Congressional District Offices and sometimes travel to Washington, D.C. to attend an NRLN “Fly-In”. The purpose of these visits is to educate the members of Congress on the NRLN’s Legislative Agenda (see the Legislative Agenda tab at www.nlrn.org), to make them aware of pending legislation that needs support and provide feedback of their performance (see Grassroots tab on www.nrln.org then click on Congressional Report Cards).
Update Email Status
If you believe you are enrolled but are not receiving email from NRLN, check your junk-mail or spam folder and designate email from contact@nrln.org as a “safe sender”. If you find no quarantined email, or if you changed your email address, please send a note to nlnmessage@msn.com to check, revise and confirm your email status in the Chapter’s database. You also may have enrolled but failed to check the box to receive emails. If this is the case your enrollment status will be corrected.
Contribute to NRLN
Retirees need a voice in Washington, D.C. The National Retiree Legislative Network serves as your voice and your contribution to the NRLN makes it possible. Because 87% of the NRLN’s budget is from individuals, your contribution is very important. You can help the NRLN have a strong voice for retirees in Washington, D.C. by contributing $35, $50, $75 or more. Any amount you contribute will be appreciated. Click this link to contribute with a check https://nrln.org/contribute-by-check/. Click this link to contribute with your credit card https://nrln.org/contribute-by-credit-card.
Click HereThe NRLN Arizona Chapter Member Benefits:
- Members become advocates of the NRLN Grassroots Organization.
- Members have a dedicated website, Arizona Chapter, accessible from the “Chapters” tab on the NRLN website at www.nrln.org.
- The NRLN FOCUS newsletter will be mailed to those AZ Chapter members that do not have an email address. An email will be sent to the AZ Chapter members that have an email address to notify them when the NRLN FOCUS is available at www.nrln.org.
- Members will receive NRLN Action Alerts, and other pertinent information from the NRLN President via email.
- AZ Congressional District Advocates contact information will be provided on the Arizona Chapter webpage.
- Dedicated Lobbyist located in Washington, D.C. meet regularly with key Congressional committee members to advocate the NRLN’s legislative initiatives.
- The Chapter will have representation on the NRLN Board of Directors. Martha Deahl, AZ Chapter President is on the NRLN Board. Contact: marthadeahl@gmail.com, cell 602-672-6262
- Chapter Grassroots volunteers who become AZ Congressional District Leaders are provided with information to share with Arizona Congressional Members during the visits in Arizona and Washington, D.C. This information identifies size and intent of the NRLN and current issues that need Congressional action.
Click here https://nrln.org/email-sign-up/ to receive Chapter and NRLN emails. Or send an email to nrlnmessage@msn.com with your name, email address, home address and telephone number. Note: you may be a chapter member whether you retired from US West, Qwest, CenturyLink or any other company, or whether you are still employed by the company.
We could use other retirees to help us interface with our AZ Senators’ and Representatives’ local offices. If they don’t hear from us, they assume we are happy with what they are doing. We need a voice for all retirees, many who cannot travel to visit their Senators and Representatives. Please help us spread the word about the NRLN and specifically the AZ Chapter and the work we are doing to help protect retirees’ interests. Please discuss the NRLN with all of you friends and encourage them to sign up to receive free emails at www.nrln.org. Remind them that their names, emails and home addresses are on a secure database designed for communicating with them and federal government officials.
Also, if you would like to go to a local congressional office with your Congressional District leader, please give them a call. We always need constituents to go along on these visits. To find your Congressional District Leader, see*“NRLN AZ Chapter Contact List”* below.
Do you know… The Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund will only be able to pay 100% of total scheduled benefits until 2033. At that time, reserves will be depleted, and income will only be sufficient to pay 77% of benefits. The NRLN supports closing the Social Security funding gap through a modest payroll tax increase and making all wages subject to the payroll tax by removing the 2026 cap of $184,500. Social Security’s Chief Actuary calculated that eliminating the taxable maximum would close about 70% of the shortfall and ensure solvency until 2060?
Do you know…Medicare’s Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund (Medicare Part A) will be able to pay 100% of scheduled benefits until 2033? After 2033 only 89% can be paid.
Do you know…Congress is allowing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize private insurance companies for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans?
Do you know…The NRLN wants to end pay-for-delay and other brand name drugmakers’ tactics that obstruct generic drugs from coming to market and allow importation of safe and less expensive drugs from Canada?
Do you know…More companies are doing Pension Risk Transfers. The foremost among protections we want to become law is our statute proposal that an annuity contract must include full reinsurance of Pension Payments?
Arizona Chapter Leaders' List
If you need assistance in finding information on www.nrln.org or the AZ State Chapter Link please contact:
- Martha Deahl, AZ Chapter President at: marthadeahl@gmail.com .
NRLN Report Card
BACKGROUND
The NRLN Report Card is useful to our members to know as much as possible on whether their U.S. Senators and Representative are a sponsor or cosponsor of bills the NRLN supports or opposes. You are encouraged to use the Report Card to urge your Representative and Senators to cosponsor bills being advocated by the NRLN and thank them when they do. The Report Card is used during NRLN fly-ins to Washington, D.C. to show the lawmakers and/or their staff members that the NRLN is tracking their actions on bills important to retirees. It is hoped that those whose position is unknown on a bill on the Report Card will follow the NRLN’s position if/when a vote is called on the bill.
To get the “report card” for your whole state delegation in the current 119th Congress
- Click on www.nrln.org/legislators/#/legislators
- Choose your state
- In the NRLN Report Card Area click on this icon:
NOTE: If the spreadsheet has a yellow banner at the top, click on “ENABLE EDITING” in order to see the full content of the report.
To get a report card on any individual senator or representative
- Click on www.nrln.org/legislators/#/legislators
- Choose your state
- Click on the individual you want
- Scroll down to see the report card on the lower part of the screen.
