GO TO THE ACT NOW PAGE TO DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO HELP SECURE A HEALTH CARE BILL
RALLY FOR THE NEW HEALTHCARE BILL; 1096
WE NEED TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE-
DONATE NOW
WE ARE RIDING A WAVE OF VICTORY, BUT IT COSTS $- PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING THE CAUSE BY DONATING TO THE NYC ORGANIZATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE RETIREES
WE WIN AGAIN! THANKS MARIANNE!
Today's Ruling Requires the City to Pay the Entire Cost of Retirees' Preferred Health Insurance
NEW YORK, Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, issued a historic decision in favor of 250,000 Medicare-eligible retired New York City workers and their dependents. The Court held that the City must continue to pay the entire cost of any health insurance plan a retiree chooses, thus preserving retirees' right to City-funded Medicare supplemental insurance.
Rejecting the City's argument that the City can cease funding retirees' health insurance, the Court unanimously 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 far inferior—type of insurance called Medicare Advantage. Unlike Medicare supplemental insurance, Medicare Advantage plans limit access to medical providers and regularly deny coverage for necessary care. Under the leadership of Marianne Pizzitola and the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees, retirees banded together and sued to protect their right to Medicare supplemental insurance.
This is another resounding victory for the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees (one of the lead plaintiffs in the case) and the entire retiree community. In the past three years, they have brought three separate lawsuits regarding their healthcare 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, states, "The City's plan to defund retiree healthcare has now been analyzed by 13 different judges across all three levels of the state court system. 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."
Jake Gardener, a partner at Walden Macht Haran & Williams LLP, counsel to the retirees, says, "We are grateful to the Court of Appeals for affirming the healthcare rights of hundreds of thousands of elderly and disabled retired City workers. Because of today's decision, countless senior citizens and disabled first responders will be able to continue receiving the medical care they desperately need and to which they are entitled."
Steve Cohen, a partner at Pollock Cohen LLP, which also represents the retirees, states, "We are thrilled that the Court of Appeals agrees that City retirees deserve what they were promised: payment for the health plan of their choice."
Come On Now, Time to Donate!
It takes $$$ to go up against the City. Marianne has proven once again that she knows how to defeat them.
In this season of giving, lets all support her and her organization to help her defeat the other pending issues that the city is trying to jam down our throats; THE Co-Pay Issue and the right to choose a secondary health plan.
CLICK ON "DONATE NOW" to help with the next Lawsuit.
About Us
Who We Are
Get Involved
Get Involved
We are Retired NYC Firefighters of all ranks. We meet five times per year at two locations; 901 Lakeville Road in New Hyde Park and 3051 Nostrand Ave in Brooklyn, NY. Through our Newsletter and this website we hope to keep you informed about your pensions.
Get Involved
Get Involved
Get Involved
Are you passionate about what we're doing? Let us know! We are always looking for volunteers to help us make our organization better for our members. We'll help you find a way to volunteer that best suits you. We're excited to have you join the team!
Thank You
Get Involved
Thank You
Whether you help through monetary donations, volunteering your time, or spreading our mission through word-of-mouth, thank you. We couldn't accomplish our goals without the help
of supporters like you.
JOIN US THE OLD FASHION WAY :
HERE'S HOW TO JOIN:
RETIRED MEMBER'S ASSOCIATION, INC
Fire Department, City of New York
ORGANIZED JANUARY 1ST, 1946
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
We offer two types of Membership.
Life Membership- one time payment of $250.00 gives you a gold RMA Membership Card and our periodic newsletters.
Annual Membership-Annual dues of $25.00 gives you 1 year of membership with associated Card, and one year of issued Newsletters.
Once you have decided on
the type of Membership you desire,
download the PDF Application above,
fill out and send with your check
made payable to the RMA
and send via US Mail to:
The RMA PO Box 1332
Baldwin, NY 11510 [Add Payment for the Lapel Pin(s)with your Dues Check]
(see Lapel Pin above-left)
[UPDATE AS OF 9/28/24: WE HAVE MADE UP A RETIREE RIBBON, SEE PICTURE BELOW]
Both Life and Annual Members will receive Critical Instant Updates as long as New Member provides a credible E-mail Address.
RETIREE RIBBON
The RETIRED small ribbon can be sewn on above your Left Shoulder FDNY Patch.
Each small RETIRED Ribbon
costs $5.00 each.
They will only be sold at the Meetings. Please see Bill Schillinger at the Presentation Table at the Front of the Room at each meeting. See picture below for what they look like individually.
SMALL RETIRED RIBBONS
See to your left The RETIRED RIBBON.
They will be sold at meetings for $5.00 each.
Our Next Meeting is in New Hyde Park on 2/25/25.
SEE YOU THERE...