Letter to Senator Casey, Sen. Fetterman, Rep. Matt Cartwright & PA DEMS
to:senator@fetterman.senate.gov,
senator@casey.senate.gov
cc:repcartwright@housecommunications.gov,
senator@sanders.senate.org,
senator@schumer.senate.org,
repmalliotakis@mail8.housecommunications.gov,
reptorres@housecommunications.com
bcc:"jalen@padems.com" <jalen@padems.com>,
"jbrady@padems.com" <jbrady@padems.com>,
teresa@padems.com,
dgregg@padems.com,
howard@padems.com
date:Nov 28, 2023, 2:44 PMsubject:Right To Medicare Act H.R.5518 -mailed-by:gmail.com
good afternoon Rep. Cartwright, Senators Casey and Fetterman-
This is just a reminder that Retiree Issues should not be ignored and that, in particular, the recent Legislation introduced by Rep. Ritchie Torres (House, NY 15) and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (House NY -11) goes a long way toward resolving one of the nagging issues and is fully worthy of support. I thanked each Rep. separately by letter & want to reiterate that now as well as urging you to support this or in the case of the U.S. Senate, something similar.
Thanks very much. Looking to hear from your office soon on this issue and others.
PLEASE SUPPORT H.R. 5518 Right To Medicare Act
(118th Congress 2023-2024)
Just for background, I am including below the copy of a recent letter to AFSCME
retiree division, AFSCME political action, and so on.
The role of the organised labor union in NYC as well as he NYC government in creating this problem should be noted.
-copy of letter-
About Retiree Issues:
NYC Mayor's so-called MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN For Municipal Retirees:
Let's be clear that NYC MUNICIPAL RETIREES largely Do Not want the Aetna Medicare Advantage plan that mayor Adams, DC37- AFSCME, and The Municipal Labor Council tried to force upon us. We prefer a choice, seriously.
DC 37 of NYC has so far been in general support of the NYC mayor's plan to force NYC Retirees into the AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN.
Traditional Medicare is best for NYC City worker retirees, especially those who live outside The City. The Only Other Option we were offered was to use the HIP centers. All HIP centers are within city or designated areas. NYC municipal retirees live in North Carolina, Florida, upstate New York, Nevada, Pennsylvania etc.
NYC Municipal Retirees are of course permitted to Live Outside of New York City (unlike some active nyc employees), but the right to choice and equitable options does not stop at the border. The City Of NY promised Traditional Medicare to us long ago & that is documented.
As a nationwide trend, this is a political issue:
1. the move towards Medicare Advantage for municipal and state retirees is not a positive thing. Please see the commentary from legendary consumer advocate Ralph Nader on the subject (some Links are below).
2. the 2014 and 2018 NYC Municipal Labor Committee agreements funded raises for one group of workers off the backs of others. The lower-paid clerks, school lunch kitchen personnel, crossing guards etc essentially funded the UFT teacher raises the way I understand it. This should never have been allowed. It was a dangerous precedent and there is certainly some linkage between that and the current pro-management stance of the M.L.C. and DC 37 (in this issue).
3. Choice is something that needs to be defended, as with this issue and others..
Thanks very much
Links:
a. https://nader.org/2019/11/21/beware-of-the-medicare-disadvantage-corporate-trap-wake-up-aarp/
b. https://www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/p/medicare-advantage-no-advantage-6a0
c. https://pnhp.org/news/ralph-nader-calls-for-an-end-to-the-corporate-takeover-of-medicare/
d. https://www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/p/medicare-advantage-is-a-scam