This is from the NY Daily News:
More than 45,000 retired municipal workers have opted to keep their current Medicare coverage for a price instead of enrolling in a free, controversial new plan offered by Mayor Adams’ administration — a situation one ex-city employee described as “a f-----g outrage” on Monday.
The new Medicare Advantage plan, which was first rolled out by former Mayor Bill de Blasio last September, has for months been a source of anxiety for many of the city’s 250,000 retired workers who fear it could dilute their benefits. While retirees are automatically enrolled in the new plan, the city allows those who want to opt-out from it to keep their current Medicare coverage — but at a new $191 monthly fee.
Despite the financial penalty, 45,646 retirees have declined the Advantage plan in order to maintain their current benefits, according to data provided to the Daily News by City Hall.
The data shows that the rate of opt-out filings picked up significantly after Feb. 6, the day Adams announced he would move ahead with implementing de Blasio’s Advantage plan despite growing concern from retirees.
In the five days after Adams’ announcement, 3,165 retirees submitted opt-out requests, with 925 filings on Feb. 9 alone, the data shows.
Hundreds of angry retirees gathered outside City Hall on Monday morning to protest Adams’ embrace of the Advantage plan and urged him to shift course before April 1, when the program officially takes effect.
Many retirees at the demonstration who spoke with The News said they had already opted out or would do so in coming weeks if Adams doesn’t have a change of heart.
“I‘m probably going to end up having to bite the bullet and eat that money, which is a f-----g outrage, because I’m not going on that plan,” said Susan Metz, 78, a retired Brooklyn public school teacher.
In honor of Monday’s holiday, protesters also signed a life-size Valentine’s Day card addressed to Adams in which they pleaded with him to “not break our hearts” by pushing through the Advantage program.
“Mr. Mayor, if you have a heart, don’t let Medicare Advantage start,” they chanted.
I would wager that many more will opt out before the April 1 switch to the Advantage plan with its multiple gatekeepers but one never knows.
12 comments:
The UFT lied to me when I called to inquire about the Medicare Advantage Plan In April. I became aware of the impending change through the PSA, the CUNY union, the representative at the UFT had no knowledge or information about it for me. I and my wife just opted out. The UFT does not have the interests of their members. They continue to promote this plan. As someone who has undergone treatments and testing for cancer and now cardiovascular issues related to the treatment, delays to testing while waiting for approval can be deadly. The UFT leadership has no shame. Vote them out.
As a state retiree, I pay for family health insurance- about 600/month. After I retired, my husband who's over 65 was put on medicare, and I got a refund of his monthly medicare cost-which we turn around and pay. It is all very confusing. I talked to health insurance reps over the phone, but didn't get accurate information. I wish that there were people to talk to, even if I had to pay for accurate and impartial advice. If we had universal health care then we'd all have the same rules and could figure it out. Good luck everyone.
The next RTC live webinar meeting is on March 8 and devoted to the Medicare Advantage Plan. This will be at least the 5th time since the Spring where Mulgrew, Sorkin and their cronies will have to once again defend and promote this plan to retirees—as they will swear its the best healthcare coverage ever—but yet 20% plus of city retirees have opted out. There continues to be a disconnect with trust as retirees are willing to pay close to $200 a month an individual a month to maintain their current healthcare.
And just wait what is coming down the pike with healthcare for in-service members. Adams has announced cuts to all city agencies. So expect very small or possibly even pay freezes in exchange for maintaining healthcare costs for the foreseeable future-especially with a negotiated UFT fall 2022 contract and other city worker contracts.
The Medicare Advantage is managed to save $600 million dollars for NY city by denying critical care to elderly retirees. Many of them will not have someone to advocate for them so that they receive the life saving procedures and medical care they will need when they seriously ill. These retirees will be denied access to cancer treatments and other life extending health procedures. They will die before receiving approval from the insurance company. How do I now this? Because this is what has happened with other Medicare Advantage plans.
How do I know that Mulgrew is a liar? Because he has blatantly lied to active employees so many times and it is a pattern of deception with Mulgrew.
Retirees, DO NOT JOIN MEDICARE ACVANTAGE. PAY THE EXTRA MONEY.
FIGHT THE CORRUPT UFT. DO NOT PUT YOUR HEALTH AT RISK DUE TO DELAYED
PRE-AUTHORIZATIONS.
Here is the evidence to support the lack of access under Medicare Advantage plans: From Ednotesonline Blog
Pre-Authorization means Patients Harmed.
Delays in Authorization lead to negative impacts
on clinical care. Sometimes death is the result of delayed authorizations.
https://ednotesonline.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-hits-keep-coming-for-mulgrewcare.html
RETIREES, OPT OUT !
2:46, I agree that the UFT has no shame.
what sort of treatments resulted in the cardiovascular issues? I hope it wasn’t due to experimental gene therapy treatments.
DC 37 threw its retirees under the bus by supporting this sham also. They said nothing to the employees until they tried to strong arm into this plan as they agreed with Deblasio on this plan. The City is supposed to pay for our coverage if we go into the plan ,so if we dont choose to ,they should pay into our plan of choice . Shame on you Dc37!
According to Jonathan Rosenberg, director of the NYC Independent Budget Office, the money supposedly saved by the bait and switch Medicare Advantage plan will go directly to the Stabilization Fund and in turn to the Welfare Funds. According to Rosenberg and the NYC/MLC agreement there will be no oversight or transparency. Wonder why Mulgrew wants that money? Surely not to improve benefits for in service or retirees. More likely to raise salaries for Unity’s patronage job holders. Wake up UFT members and retirees there’s smoke where there’s fire.
Please watch this stellar video to learn more
https://youtu.be/TCff3LFtosU
The current UFT is garbage. Adams is a racist. He didn't like reporters comments so he plays the race card. Reporters did there job and asked tough questions. Adams uses racial slur crackers. He is also garbage yet the UFT supported him. We need UFC to win.
A female should be leading a union of females.
Please note that RTC meetings are webinars...a one way broadcast of lies, lies, and more damn lies. I follow everything from nycretirees org and my CUNY friends send me everything they get. Mulgrew is not only reviled by UFT retirees, he is hated by retirees from other city unions for the damage he has done and the time and money he is costing them!
Please contribute to ufcuft.vote and fight back. Mulgrew has to go!
(By the way, still waiting for my paper copy of the current Medicare (Dis)Advantage Program contract that Alliance failed to send. All the more reason to opt out.)
Our esteemed mayor wants to cut 560 school safety agent positions. Does he have a clue? They are spread pretty thin in most places. If the building seems relatively "quiet" some staff goes to other buildings, sometimes for days. Maybe returned after upheaval...
In the meantime problems are "minimized" or not reported at all!
Could school safety agents be deployed more intelligently? You bet! But that is a poor management issue...
Will UFT weigh in on safety? Not holding my breath...
What does Gene Mann sa on this Medicare Advantage thing? That Did HE choose? LOL.
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