By Forum Staff
The City Council Common Sense Caucus this week brought an amicus brief before the State Court of Appeals in support of a class-action lawsuit filed by municipal retirees to block the City from switching their health insurance to Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan from Medicare supplemental health insurance.
In the brief, the CSC indicated that it agrees with the retirees that the switch to a lesser, privatized health insurance violates State and local law and breaks a longstanding promise the City has made to provide its workforce with free, high quality healthcare in retirement.
“Plaintiffs-Respondents brought this action based upon the unlawful nature of the City’s attempt to strip away the rightful healthcare benefits that have been promised to the Retirees since the passage of Medicare,” the CSC wrote in the brief.
Photo Courtesy of Google
The Council Common Sense Caucus filed the amicus brief in the State Court of Appeals.
This is the third amicus brief the CSC has filed in support of the retirees in their legal battles with the City, which began in 2021 when the City announced it would be switching the plans of approximately 250,000 retirees. The retirees have prevailed in court at every step, the CSC noted.
“We’re proud to back their fight,” the caucus said.
“We must always support our retirees!!” Councilwoman and CSC member Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park) wrote on Twitter. “This City made a promise, and that promise needs to be kept.”
The Court of Appeals has scheduled oral arguments for this case on May 15.
