A New York City labor leaders committee voted Thursday to approve a New Medicare Coverage Advantage plan for municipal retirees, removing many former city workers from their current health coverage. According to United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew, who serves as the committee’s executive vice chair, the Municipal Labor Committee voted in favor of the plan.
After a committee voted to approve a New Medicare Coverage Advantage Plan for municipal retirees, many former city workers’ existing health coverage will undergo significant changes. (Photo: TheCity.nyc)
After a committee voted to approve a New Medicare Coverage Advantage Plan for municipal retirees, many former city workers’ existing health coverage will undergo significant changes.
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The switch will bring new benefits, such as routine hearing and vision exams, hearing aids, and telemedicine-based mental health care. However, opponents of the change have expressed concern that the Medicare Advantage plan will be more likely to require prior approval for certain medical services and, as a result, deny coverage. A recent federal investigation discovered that Medicare Advantage plans frequently deny coverage for services that are not medically necessary.
The Municipal Labor Committee vote moves forward Mayor Eric Adams’ long-delayed effort to save money on city health benefits by switching retirees from traditional Medicare, supplemented by SeniorCare, to a privately run Medicare Advantage plan. According to the city, the switch, which former Mayor Bill de Blasio proposed initially, could bring in an estimated $600 million per year in federal subsidies available to Medicare Advantage plans.
Michael Mulgrew is the President of the United Federation of Teachers and the Executive Vice Chair of the Municipal Labor Committee. He told WNYC’s Sean Carlson that the plan expands the number of doctors in the network and provides financial security.
However, critics claim that the New Medicare Coverage plan is more likely to require prior approval for certain medical services, potentially leading to coverage denial.
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