Saving Medicare: Why is Unity anti-Optout today?

Last Spring, Summer, and Fall

Retirees opted out of Medicare Advantage Plus (aka MAP, aka Mulgrewcare). Not all. But many. Many of the city’s retirees. They opted to keep Medicare with the current reimbursements. And pay the Mulgrew-penalty ($191/month) rather than find out how bad the preapproval process would be, and how many doctors were really not going to accept the new privatized plan.

Back last spring, and over the summer, and into the fall, while Mulgrew was trying to sell Medicare Advantage, I understand why he might have pleaded, bullied, and tried to trick retirees into not opting out. And man, did he try.

He had probably promised Emblem or Anthem or the Alliance or whatever that company is called (you know, the insurance company, the one making the big bucks even though they never take your temperature or test your blood or perform surgery) – he probably promised them that he would keep some high number of retirees in MAP. The more retirees who opted out, the more he freaked out.

But today?

Almost three weeks ago a judge said the City and MLC and UFT could not penalize retirees with a penalty for not choosing their preferred plan: Medicare Advantage Plus. Mulgrew wanted to fine members who kept their traditional Medicare – judge said no. There’s huge holes in that decision. But now the City is appealing and Mulgrew says, for now, MAP is not going to start.

So why is the RTC in Florida circulating information telling retirees not to opt out? What difference would it make if Mulgrewcare is DoA?

New information and updates regarding the NYC Medicare Advantage Plus Plan

The NYC Medicare Advantage Plus Plan is not being implemented on April 1, 2022. 

Retirees do not need to opt out of the Medicare Advantage Plus Program in order to remain in Senior Care or their current plan on
April 1.

All retirees will remain in their current plans until further notice.  

We will post updates for retirees as we have more information.  

For additional information, you can call the special Alliance call center at 1-833-325-1190, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.  

Well, there’s a rub. What if they are planning to wait until after the election, and then revive their assault on traditional Medicare? Then it would make sense for them to continue to campaign against opting out. And that, I am sorry to say, is what I think they are doing.

Why else does Mulgrew say “the UFT is withdrawing its support for starting [MAP] on April 1”? What date does he really have in mind?

And, if he is planning to bring this monstrosity back, shouldn’t retirees who were planning on opting out go ahead and opt out, just to be safe?