LETTER TO MULGREW-MURPHY ON MEDICARE PRIVATIZATION

In my inbox is a letter to Mulgrew-Murphy that expresses retiree frustration over a possible switch for retired city employees from Medicare to a private Medicare Advantage plan.

Here is the link to register for the Retiree Advocate webinar this evening at 7:00 P.M. that will discuss this issue. My understanding is 200 people have registered.  

Shameless plug: I will be one of the panelists this evening. I will be speaking on how Mulgrew's town halls operate ahead of the Tuesday Mulgrew town hall with the retirees.

After stewing in my anger, fear and frustration over this sellout I needed to put my thoughts on paper.  Here is the copy of my letter to Tom Murphy and Michael Mulgrew.

It’s mind boggling to think that as a growing majority of Americans, on both sides of the political divide, support a national single payer healthcare system the UFT is taking a giant step backward (behind closed doors) and dropping the Medicare Traditional program offered to UFT Retirees and changing it to Medicare Advantage, a private, for profit, medicare [sic] like program.  

Honestly, the UFT is following in the foot steps of the Trump Administration by its privatization of the UFT Retirees medicare program.  This private, for profit program will need to make a profit, unlike government run Medicare Traditional and thus cannot give us the same services at the same cost.  We don’t need smoke and mirrors.  Just do the math.

A few well documented and researched facts. (1) The US ranks 11 among the top10 Industrial Western Countries in quality and delivery in healthcare services.  (2) The top 10 countries all have a universal health care system.  The systems are less costly and provide better health care for all of its citizens.  (3) Private health insurance companies stand between doctors and patients.  Decisions are made based on a business model formula of patient healthcare needs that yield a profit for the company.  Do the math, otherwise they wouldn’t be in business.

UFT THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX! 

 

“The MLC is tasked with finding cost savings for the city to the tune of $1.1 billion during the current negotiation period (2018-2021) —including $600 Million in fiscal year 2021.”

It’s not OK for senior citizens living on a fixed income to bear the onus, look else where to fill the gap.  

UFT MAKE DEMANDS OUTSIDE THE BOX!  

For example, demand that the city end all the sweetheart tax free and tax abatement programs and other lucrative incentives given to both domestic and foreign investors.  That money would be more than enough to bridge the savings the MLC has been tasked with. You just have to scratch the surface.  Seek and you shall find, as the expression goes.  

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Retirees  live on a fixed income while the big corporations, investors and CEOs pay nothing or a pittance in City taxes. Why are the most vulnerable being ordered to fix the financial gap?

It is not OK for retirees to bear the brunt, carry the burden of bridging the gap because the City says it can’t afford to pay for the Retirees government run Medicare Traditional program. 

It’s not OK to privatize the retiree medicare program that will provide less flexibility, reduced services and cost more. 

It’s not OK for the UFT to use the theatrics of smoke and mirrors to tell us we are getting the same and or better deal in a private, for profit  medicare [sic] like plan.  Health insurance companies are in the business to make a profit.  Profit is the driving force and not healthcare.  Using the business model you cut corners on healthcare but not reduce profits.  And don’t throw tele-doctoring in our face! Anything to make a buck for the health insurance industry. 

THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX!

We need a national healthcare system.  Rather than moving towards that end you are beefing up the Trump era model of privatizing government services. SHAME ON YOU.

UFT YOU SHOULD AND CAN DO BETTER!

Healthcare is a human right and not fodder for corporate greed! 

 

A Very Disappointed  UFT Retiree,

Denise Rickles