September 16, 2021
Dear Friends:
From: CROC (Cross-Union Retirees Organizing Committee)
You are receiving this because a few months ago, you and almost 27,000 others signed the petition ‘Preserve Medicare Part B for NYC Retirees’ posted by COMRO (Council of Municipal Retiree Organizations). It’s time to give you an update.
On July 14, 2021, the MLC (Municipal Labor Committee) voted to privatize our NYC Retirees’ Medicare and switch to a newly minted Medicare Advantage Plan. This decision was made without the input of the 250,000+ retirees and their dependents. The details of this new plan seem to change by the minute, yet we are being told that unless we opt-out, we will all be enrolled on January 1, 2022.
Many NYC retirees have unanswered questions, and since the actual details of this new plan are not public, there are many concerns about the poor track record of other Medicare Advantage Plans:
- Will we be denied authorization for imaging like CT scans, MRIs, etc?
- Will all our familiar doctors choose to participate? Will the benefits and cost-sharing change from year to year?
- Will we be penalized for opting-out?
- Will a two-tiered system be created based on who can and who cannot pay to opt-out?
Read some informative articles and website:
- NYC Health Benefits Program
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/olr/health/retiree/health-retiree-responsibilities-assistance.page - Stop the Medicare bait-and-switch: NYC is poised to harm its retirees
https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-stop-the-medicare-bait-and-switch-nyc-retirees-20210813-tjvtnjf3vbaermqb4x32cbw63e-story.html?fbclid=IwAR121wMxgU-5xNjQYghFbox-3dgzth7vXOqa6Vg62qh_uzaaE1HKlxVnd20 - The New York City Unions Whose Backdoor Deal Sold Out Retirees, Helped Insurance Industry
https://www.newsweek.com/new-york-city-unions-whose-backdoor-deal-sold-out-retirees-helped-insurance-industry-1604661 - Opposing Creation of a Two-Class Healthcare System for the City’s Retirees
https://www.pnhpnymetro.org/opposing_creation_of_a_two_class_healthcare_system_for_the_city_s_retirees - In New York City, Retirees Brace for Switch to Privatized Health Care
https://theintercept.com/2021/08/19/medicare-advantage-privatized-health-care-new-york-city/
Facebook Group - PTPM
https://www.facebook.com/groups/148958687340733
Facebook Group – Preserve Medicare Part B for NYC Retirees
https://www.facebook.com/groups/preservemedicarepartbfornycretirees
Video: RSA Membership Meeting | Wednesday, June 23, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdRVdPGhGz8
Take Action!
Let’s band together to get some answers from our elected officials and unions. Let’s speak up to stop this train before January 1!!
Governor Hochul
Tel: 518-402-2292
Web: kathyhochul.com/contact-us
Mayoral candidates:
Eric Adams
Tel: 718-802-3700
Email: AskEric@brooklynBP.nyc.gov
Malcolm McDaniel
Email: McDaniel@brooklynBP.nyc.gov
Curtis Sliwa
Email: info@curtissliwaformayor.com
Web: https://sliwaforny.com/contact/
Contact city council chairs to ask for public hearings and an investigation:
Corey Johnson, Speaker of the City Council
Tel: 212-788-7210
Email: speakerjohnson@council.nyc.gov
Council Member Vanessa Gibson
Tel: 718-588-7500
Email: district16bronx@council.nyc.gov
Council Member Danny Dromm
Tel: 212-788-7066
Email: dromm@council.nyc.gov
Council Member Mark Levine
Tel: 212-928 6814
Email: district7@council.nyc.gov
Council Member Mark Treyger
Email: MTreyger@council.nyc.gov
Council Member Margaret Chin
Email: chin@council.nyc.gov
JOIN US!
NYC Municipal Retirees will present: A Street Theatre “Die-In”
Friday, Sept. 24th at 4PM
On Broadway, in front of City Hall Park (between Chambers & Murray Streets). Admission is FREE
NYC union retirees will stage a Street Action "Die-In" to publicize the life-threatening danger faced by 250,000 retirees as the City prepares to switch their traditional Medicare coverage to a privately managed Medicare Advantage plan on Jan 1, 2022.
We oppose the City's move to save money by endangering the healthcare coverage of vulnerable seniors. We say NO!