Protect insurance for city retirees

To the editor:

On Sept. 11, 2001, New York City police, fire personnel, doctors, nurses, doctors, social workers, and hundreds of civil servants rushed to that scene of devastation and served in the area long after that day at great risk to their health. We said, “we will never forget.”

Now, 22 years later, the mayor and entrenched “big union” bosses — without input from retirees — tried to switch New York City retirees — including first responders with grave illnesses — from federally managed Medicare health insurance, to a private insurance company-managed Medicare Advantage program.

Retirees know they are not legally represented by city unions after retirement. They formed and funded an independent organization — outside of the union structure — called the New York City Organization of Public Service Retirees, and sued to keep their contracted health insurance. They won three court cases at great expense, and with a lot of hard work and dynamic leadership.

Now Councilman Eric Dinowitz and other members who represent first responders and retired civil servants living in their communities should support the Council 1099 bill requiring the city to guarantee city retirees at least one Medigap plan with benefits equivalent to those available to retirees as of the end of 2021, as contracted.

The mayor and the big city union bosses are looking for that pot of gold. They are spreading false news, threatening court decisions appeals, city council member seats, and active employees’ health benefits. Active city employees must awaken to the fact that this fight is theirs, too.

The gauntlet is being passed. Organize. Never forget.

Linda Lukas

The author is a retired New York City employee