News

NY Court Rules Against City’s Plan to Defund Retiree Health Care

Ruling Requires City to Pay Entire Cost of Retirees’ Preferred Health Insurance Plan

Dec. 17, 2024 — The New York Court of Appeals issued a historic decision in favor of 250,000 Medicare-eligible retired New York City workers and their dependents saying that the City must continue to pay the entire cost of any health insurance plan retirees select, thus preserving their right to City-funded Medicare supplemental insurance. The state’s highest court issued a unanimous decision affirming the victories achieved by the retirees in the lower courts.

Rejecting the City’s argument that the City can cease funding retirees’ health insurance, the Court held that “the City must pay—up to the statutory cap—for each health insurance plan that it offers employees and retirees.” The decision is available here.

In 2021, the City announced that it would stop paying for retirees’ Medicare supplemental insurance and automatically switch them into a federally funded and inferior type of insurance called Medicare Advantage. Unlike Medicare supplemental insurance, Medicare Advantage plans limit access to doctors and hospitals and regularly deny coverage for necessary care.

Retirees banded together under the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees and sued to protect their right to Medicare supplemental insurance. In the past three years, retirees have brought three separate lawsuits regarding their health care rights and have obtained landmark victories in each case at both the trial and appellate levels.

Marianne Pizzitola, President of the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees, said, “The City’s plan to defund retiree health care has now been analyzed by 13 different judges across all three levels of the state judiciary. Every single judge — all 13 of them — have concluded that the City’s plan is unlawful. We once again call on the City and the Municipal Labor Committee to end their ruthless and unlawful campaign to deprive retired municipal workers of the healthcare benefits they earned.”

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Dental Benefit Change Effective Jan. 1, 2024 for Actives & Retirees

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, there will be some modifications to the current dental benefit.

The changes are as follows:

There will be an Annual Deductible of $50 for all eligible participants, including dependents. Therefore, each person in a family will have a $50 Calendar Year Annual Deductible.
There will be a $200 Co-Payment on the placement of an Implant.
There will be a $200 Co-Payment on any adult orthodontics commencing after the age of 26.
There will be a $50 Co-Payment on all crowns, bridges, and Dentures.

Please note, your Individual Calendar Year maximum of $3,500 remains the same. The $3,500 Orthodontic Lifetime Maximum remains the same. This generous dental benefit is administered by Sele-Dent, and you have access to multiple Sele-Dent networks, which contain over 5,000 Participating Providers. Please always try to utilize a Sele-Dent dentist. You may locate Sele-Dent participating providers by visiting www.Sele-Dent.com. Additionally, go to the Correction Captains Association benefits page for further provider listings.

All other current dental benefit coverage remains the same. If you have any questions regarding this change or any of your dental benefits, please call SeleDent at 1.800.520.DENTAL (3368) and one of our knowledgeable, courteous benefit analysts will assist you.

Prison jobs used to be sought after in NY. So why are thousands unfilled?

More than 5,000 people work in prisons in the North Country. For decades, they have been some of the most sought-after jobs, offering good pay and long-term benefits.

But the prison landscape in New York is changing. Fewer people are incarcerated, facilities are closing, and the job market isn’t what it used to be. Prisons are now struggling to attract workers and the state wants to close more facilities, in part because of staffing shortages.

"They are overworked, they’re burnt out, they’re working doubles, they’re giving up time with families," said Daniel Martuscello, acting director of New York’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS). Martuscello testified in Albany in January, explaining to lawmakers that there were thousands of job vacancies in prisons, putting a real strain on the system.

Read the Full Story Here >

Retired Teachers Seek Union Shakeup to Dodge Medicare Advantage

A group of dissident retired public school teachers is seeking to take over part of the New York City teachers union in an upcoming election — and they hope to galvanize opposition over a proposed change to retirees’ health care and turn it into votes this June.

Retirees fear that the proposed change — a shift from public Medicare to private Medicare Advantage plans — could leave them with higher costs and fewer benefits. It’s been a major source of controversy since New York Focus broke the news of the proposal nearly three years ago. Though the plan has been on ice since last year, when a court sided with retirees who sued to block it, it still looms large as the city pursues an appeal.

With fear and anger running high, a group of retired teachers known as Retiree Advocate hopes those feelings will propel its insurgent slate into leadership positions at the retiree chapter of the United Federation of Teachers. The teacher union is one of the foremost backers of the Medicare Advantage switch.

Read the Full Story Here >

Dec. 29, 2023 - Members Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract

The Correction Captains’ Association announces that all valid ballots received by the deadline for the contract Nov. 30, 2022, through Jan. 29, 2028, were tabulated and members overwhelmingly ratified the contract.

We have notified the Office of Labor Relations and we are waiting on a reply for payout dates for both raises and retro pay. We will keep you updated as soon as we receive a reply.

Nov. 20, 2023 - Retirees Group Aetna Medicare Advantage Update

NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees recently announced the Court classified its copay case as a Class Action, so if they were to win, everyone would benefit. On Nov. 16, the City appealed that decision. This now makes the third appeal the retirees group is fighting concurrently. They are beginning a fundraiser to raise $250,000 before 2024 to help cover the litigation. Watch this video, and donate today.

We worked decades for our benefits. Let’s make sure the City and the MLC don’t take them away.

A suggested $25 donation* will help start the fight to keep our current benefits. 

*Give more if you can, and/or more often. If you cannot meet the minimum suggested donation, whatever you can give towards this fight for our benefits is appreciated. There is also the added option to make your donation recurring (monthly). The NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees is incorporated as a Non-Profit, but not tax deductible. All proceeds go to fund the organization and its legal challenge. Volunteer retirees are running this effort.

Here are the 4 ways you can donate to the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees.

1. Zelle using email to NYCOrgofpublicserviceretirees@gmail.com

You cannot use the Zelle app. You must use Zelle via your online banking. In some cases you cannot use the Zelle via the bank app either. So if you're finding trouble, use the computer and make the payment via Zelle from your online banking.

2. Make your check out to:

NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees

c/o JSH Accounting Services LLC

PO Box 143538

Fayetteville, GA 30214

(This is the organization's accounting professional)

3. Click here to donate through Paypal.

4. Venmo us @NYCRetirees2

Please take note: our Venmo name changed. Venmo can be used on your mobile phone, a PC, or a tablet. You can download and install the phone app from the Android Play Store or Apple App Store. There may be fees involved using this method.

Find the NYC Organization of Public Service Retiree's Facebook page here.

Check their website for an FAQ.

Aug. 17, 2023 – CCA Addresses Staffing Concerns & Reminds Captains of Contractual Rights

We have staunchly stood fast on requests from the Department to violate any right we have secured. We feel it is important to keep you informed on what is being considered and what you can expect to occur.

2024

NY Court Rules Against City’s Plan to Defund Retiree Health Care

Ruling Requires City to Pay Entire Cost of Retirees’ Preferred Health Insurance Plan

Dec. 17, 2024 — The New York Court of Appeals issued a historic decision in favor of 250,000 Medicare-eligible retired New York City workers and their dependents saying that the City must continue to pay the entire cost of any health insurance plan retirees select, thus preserving their right to City-funded Medicare supplemental insurance. The state’s highest court issued a unanimous decision affirming the victories achieved by the retirees in the lower courts.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Dental Benefit Change Effective Jan. 1, 2024 for Actives & Retirees

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, there will be some modifications to the current dental benefit.

The changes are as follows:

There will be an Annual Deductible of $50 for all eligible participants, including dependents. Therefore, each person in a family will have a $50 Calendar Year Annual Deductible.
There will be a $200 Co-Payment on the placement of an Implant.
There will be a $200 Co-Payment on any adult orthodontics commencing after the age of 26.
There will be a $50 Co-Payment on all crowns, bridges, and Dentures.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Prison jobs used to be sought after in NY. So why are thousands unfilled?

More than 5,000 people work in prisons in the North Country. For decades, they have been some of the most sought-after jobs, offering good pay and long-term benefits.

Read the Full Story Here >

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Retired Teachers Seek Union Shakeup to Dodge Medicare Advantage

Read the Full Story Here >

2023

Dec. 29, 2023 - Members Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract

More than 5,000 people work in prisons in the North Country. For decades, they have been some of the most sought-after jobs, offering good pay and long-term benefits.

Read the Full Story Here >

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Nov. 20, 2023 - Retirees Group Aetna Medicare Advantage Update

We worked decades for our benefits. Let’s make sure the City and the MLC don’t take them away.

A suggested $25 donation* will help start the fight to keep our current benefits. 

Here are the 4 ways you can donate to the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees.

Zelle using email to NYCOrgofpublicserviceretirees@gmail.com
You cannot use the Zelle app. You must use Zelle via your online banking. In some cases you cannot use the Zelle via the bank app either. So if you're finding trouble, use the computer and make the payment via Zelle from your online banking.
Make your check out to:
NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees
c/o JSH Accounting Services LLC
PO Box 143538
Fayetteville, GA 30214
(This is the organization's accounting professional)
Click here to donate through Paypal.
Venmo us @NYCRetirees2
Please take note: our Venmo name changed. Venmo can be used on your mobile phone, a PC, or a tablet. You can download and install the phone app from the Android Play Store or Apple App Store. There may be fees involved using this method.