ED NOTES REPORTS RETIREE HEALTHCARE GOING TO ARBITRATION

The latest on retiree healthcare being switched by the Municipal Labor Committee from federally administered Medicare to privatized Medicare Advantage (Mulgrewcare) for NYC government employee retirees from Norm Scott over at Ed Notes.

Someone posted this info -- the battle is between Aetna and Emblem --- we don't know which group the city or MLC favor -- I assume the city favors the one that will screw us the most. Was it our pressure? Not likely according to sources but on the other hand the pressure might have firmed up the MLC a bit to resist to some extent, though they are still going ahead.

I am guessing the city wants Aetna which is probably worse than Emblem, which at least many of us have dealt with. Isn't Aetna our dental plan, which sucks? I don't really remember and am too lazy to look it up.

The problem is it now goes to arbitration and the fact is we get screwed either way.

It is SIGNA-SIDS who administer our dental plan. 

I would argue that the thousands of retirees who want to stay in Medicare A and B should get together and at least try to shop for a separate plan for the 20% coverage that Medicare Part A and Part B don't cover. If the 10,000 of the 14,000 who signed the petition saying no to the privatization got together and formed their own association, they might be able to have a bit of leverage to get a decent plan for the 20% Part A and Part B expenses Medicare does not cover. Someone will want to cover that many people. 

If you have not yet done so, Vote Retiree Advocate in the UFT Retired Teachers Chapter election. Active people, please vote for candidates who pledge not to have anything to do with Unity Caucus and their loyalty oath in your school's Chapter election.