PSC has imagined it, at least, and predicts there will be tiers of care. Some places will cost a lot more than others. Mulgrew rejected it, he says, because it contained premiums. However, he specifically agreed to them as a possibility. I believe he's trying to delay it until after the UFT election, so as to preserve the patronage mill. Here's the PSC link.
“🎼Imagine there’s no Mulgrew, Adams and MLC! Imagine there’s no bombs like Aetna and the rest. Imagine there’s a Union who puts the members first. No corruption, stealing or lies. Imagine all the promises made were kept. Imagine we had a Union where Seniors had Medicare and a choice of supplemental. Imagine we could convince Media, Council and City folk we did our best. No punishments, no stress and no more appeals! YES just Imagine”
Couldn’t help it, Arthur, after reading your article John Lennon’s song kept running through my head! Thank you for another great article of truth!
Thanks Kathy. I do think the MLC could be a good tool, IF it were focused on improving, rather than worsening conditions for members. Of course, you're absolutely correct that's certainly not what they do now.
Arthur, I have seen you cite a UFT Welfare Fund drug coverage issue from 18 years ago several times recently and I’m truly sorry that you had a negative experience.
I think there’s some confusion because doctors write prescriptions for many things; they aren’t limited to writing prescriptions for medication.
The FDA categorizes artificial saliva as a medical device, not a medication. The UFT Welfare Fund’s in-service Rx benefit is limited to providing coverage for FDA approved legend drugs.
Since the FDA does not classify artificial saliva as a medication, it wouldn’t be covered under the Fund’s Rx benefit structure.
I can only imagine the anxiety that comes with a cancer diagnosis. If you reached out to us, we would have explained this and we would have tried to help you get coverage through your NYC health plan.
One of the unique things about the UFT Welfare Fund is we are structured to assist our members in navigating all of the issues one might face in the extraordinarily complex world of NYC health benefits. We are happy to do so.
I do appreciate your reply. However, I was honestly in no condition to reach out to anyone and ask questions, and in any case, I don't think that explanation would have made me feel any better. I was also paying bills for thousands of dollars from the hospital that I questioned because I did not have the energy or inclination to negotiate. Since you bring it up, for several years I was also denied a colonoscopy prep, but that appears to now be covered.
LOVING THIS Arthur!! Inspired like others to add some more:
Imagine if Mulgrew used his bully pulpit to educate the public on why we're actually faced with spiraling healthcare costs; how Big$ and their lobbyists were enabled to create obscene prices to benefit from. What a stir and demand for change there'd be! And the respect and support for Labor would go off the roofs!
Imagine, too, if Mulgrew and other powerful union leaders stopped their double-talk and mounted enormous pressure on candidates (like no one else can!) to reject the corporatization of healthcare -- not to mention push a ban on the privatization of Medicare! Shouldnn't candidates EARN their endorsements?!
Instead I've just received a voter guide packet from Unity-led NYSUT which makes NO mention of healthcare coverage, nor Medicare, within the platforms of candidates they endorse. Seems Mulgrew and other like-minded ones are hoping to create a new normal where hard-earned, good healthcare gets shamefully erased from union history & human expectations.
These imposter union leaders are playing us -- so keep your wonderful pieces coming Arthur!!
After the current leaders are replaced will the winners fight for Medicare for all or just for retirees ? You offer a devastating critique of the current leadership but the retirees don’t need convincing. Yes Medicare is better than GHI. Why is the current leadership so wedded to private insurance and will the new leadership chart a different course for both retirees and working members?
Imagine demanding to see the new health care plan the City and MLC will be offering in-service members prior to the election.
PSC has imagined it, at least, and predicts there will be tiers of care. Some places will cost a lot more than others. Mulgrew rejected it, he says, because it contained premiums. However, he specifically agreed to them as a possibility. I believe he's trying to delay it until after the UFT election, so as to preserve the patronage mill. Here's the PSC link.
https://psc-cuny.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PSC-Myths-and-Facts-about-NYC-Employee-health-insurance-final-4-19-24.pdf
“🎼Imagine there’s no Mulgrew, Adams and MLC! Imagine there’s no bombs like Aetna and the rest. Imagine there’s a Union who puts the members first. No corruption, stealing or lies. Imagine all the promises made were kept. Imagine we had a Union where Seniors had Medicare and a choice of supplemental. Imagine we could convince Media, Council and City folk we did our best. No punishments, no stress and no more appeals! YES just Imagine”
Couldn’t help it, Arthur, after reading your article John Lennon’s song kept running through my head! Thank you for another great article of truth!
Thanks Kathy. I do think the MLC could be a good tool, IF it were focused on improving, rather than worsening conditions for members. Of course, you're absolutely correct that's certainly not what they do now.
Arthur, I have seen you cite a UFT Welfare Fund drug coverage issue from 18 years ago several times recently and I’m truly sorry that you had a negative experience.
I think there’s some confusion because doctors write prescriptions for many things; they aren’t limited to writing prescriptions for medication.
The FDA categorizes artificial saliva as a medical device, not a medication. The UFT Welfare Fund’s in-service Rx benefit is limited to providing coverage for FDA approved legend drugs.
Since the FDA does not classify artificial saliva as a medication, it wouldn’t be covered under the Fund’s Rx benefit structure.
I can only imagine the anxiety that comes with a cancer diagnosis. If you reached out to us, we would have explained this and we would have tried to help you get coverage through your NYC health plan.
One of the unique things about the UFT Welfare Fund is we are structured to assist our members in navigating all of the issues one might face in the extraordinarily complex world of NYC health benefits. We are happy to do so.
Geof Sorkin
I do appreciate your reply. However, I was honestly in no condition to reach out to anyone and ask questions, and in any case, I don't think that explanation would have made me feel any better. I was also paying bills for thousands of dollars from the hospital that I questioned because I did not have the energy or inclination to negotiate. Since you bring it up, for several years I was also denied a colonoscopy prep, but that appears to now be covered.
LOVING THIS Arthur!! Inspired like others to add some more:
Imagine if Mulgrew used his bully pulpit to educate the public on why we're actually faced with spiraling healthcare costs; how Big$ and their lobbyists were enabled to create obscene prices to benefit from. What a stir and demand for change there'd be! And the respect and support for Labor would go off the roofs!
Imagine, too, if Mulgrew and other powerful union leaders stopped their double-talk and mounted enormous pressure on candidates (like no one else can!) to reject the corporatization of healthcare -- not to mention push a ban on the privatization of Medicare! Shouldnn't candidates EARN their endorsements?!
Instead I've just received a voter guide packet from Unity-led NYSUT which makes NO mention of healthcare coverage, nor Medicare, within the platforms of candidates they endorse. Seems Mulgrew and other like-minded ones are hoping to create a new normal where hard-earned, good healthcare gets shamefully erased from union history & human expectations.
These imposter union leaders are playing us -- so keep your wonderful pieces coming Arthur!!
Thanks Laura. I am really disappointed in the gutlessness of our so-called leaders. Their tactics never, ever change. They know nothing else.
After the current leaders are replaced will the winners fight for Medicare for all or just for retirees ? You offer a devastating critique of the current leadership but the retirees don’t need convincing. Yes Medicare is better than GHI. Why is the current leadership so wedded to private insurance and will the new leadership chart a different course for both retirees and working members?