Let's get the co-pays on prescription medications lowered!

The Issue

As of the New Year, a new prescription provider, AETNA, has taken over for DC 37 members, active and retired.  Since then co-pays on prescription medications has doubled and in some cases tripled.  This is unacceptable!  The last plan, Optima was doing the same thing until it was discovered that they were overcharging our members.  The company was penalised and co-pays were immediately lowered to the right prices which were more affordable especially to those members living on fixed incomes like retirees or the disabled.  Now AETNA seems to be doing the same thing!  The only people benefiting are DC37 and AETNA.  This "abuse" must stop.  It is time to raise our voices and say "we won't take it anymore"!!  It is to the point .that some members have to go without life saving medications because they cant make the co-pays! We make a career at saving the lives  of others but when it's our turn to get help, we get stomped on.  I devoted 29 years of my life to EMS and I deserve better.  We all deserve better.  In these last 5 years of retirement, I've lost both my feet, my kidneys are close to shutting down permanently, and a slew of other health issues .  I've gone several times without my medications because of the co pay issue.  I know I'm not alone so let's get motivated people!!!!!!

avatar of the starter
Nancy CarterPetition Starter
Media inquiries
This petition had 690 supporters

The Issue

As of the New Year, a new prescription provider, AETNA, has taken over for DC 37 members, active and retired.  Since then co-pays on prescription medications has doubled and in some cases tripled.  This is unacceptable!  The last plan, Optima was doing the same thing until it was discovered that they were overcharging our members.  The company was penalised and co-pays were immediately lowered to the right prices which were more affordable especially to those members living on fixed incomes like retirees or the disabled.  Now AETNA seems to be doing the same thing!  The only people benefiting are DC37 and AETNA.  This "abuse" must stop.  It is time to raise our voices and say "we won't take it anymore"!!  It is to the point .that some members have to go without life saving medications because they cant make the co-pays! We make a career at saving the lives  of others but when it's our turn to get help, we get stomped on.  I devoted 29 years of my life to EMS and I deserve better.  We all deserve better.  In these last 5 years of retirement, I've lost both my feet, my kidneys are close to shutting down permanently, and a slew of other health issues .  I've gone several times without my medications because of the co pay issue.  I know I'm not alone so let's get motivated people!!!!!!

avatar of the starter
Nancy CarterPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Rochelle Mangual
Rochelle Mangual
Retirees Association DC 37
Responded
“April 26, 2017 The District Council (DC) 37 Retirees Association has sympathy for Sister Carter’s medical problems and her need for expensive prescription medications. However, her attack on the DC 37 Health and Security (H & S) plan is misguided and her petition factually incorrect. The DC 37 H & S plan is funded entirely by payments from the employer (mainly NYC) per our union contracts. The outrageous increases in Rx costs have risen much, much more rapidly than have the increases in the H & S funds received. The January 1, 2017 changes in our prescription drug benefits were made to prevent the entire H & S plan from running out of money by 2018. If this were to occur, we would have had NO coverage! What was negotiated, is a reflection of the best coverage we could collectively afford. Optum Rx drug coverage still exists for active and non-Medicare eligible retirees. Aetna coverage is for Medicare eligible retirees only. The copays and formularies are similar. The DC 37 Public Employee Press has given extensive explanation for the changes and the new co-pays. The DC 37 Retirees Association, the DC 37 Health and Security Plan and Aetna Medicare welcome calls from those who need clarification on the Aetna Medicare prescription drug coverage. Again, we and other union plans are held hostage in our benefit coverage by the outrageous increases charged by the pharmaceutical companies. Fraternally yours, Rochelle Mangual President DC 37 Retirees Association”
Irael Miranda
Irael Miranda
President of Local 2507
Eddie Rodriguez ,President
Eddie Rodriguez ,President
DC 37 Health and Security plan

Petition Updates

Share this petition

Petition created on January 27, 2017