THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL: Why the ABC and ARISE Caucuses Should Not Get One Retiree Vote and Why Unity Caucus is Against the New York Health Act

Let’s start with the complaint from the other caucus’s “why are you, Unity Caucus, attacking those aspects of the New York Health Care Act that were similar to the Medicare Advantage plan that you supported”? The answer is simple. Our members didn’t want what the Medicare advantage plan offered them. They wanted their Traditional Medicare. So the other two caucuses are saying that the NY Health Care Act is posing the same issues as the Medicare Advantage Plan. WHY THEN ARE YOU SUPPORTING IT? Our members don’t want it. YOUR SUPPORT OF THE NEW YORK HEALTH CARE ACT IS THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL. It might be better for many people in NY State but it’s not better for our retirees. And they don’t want it.

Let’s talk about Michael Mulgrew’s leadership. Yes he supported and was one of the main players in the passage by the MLC of the Medicare Advantage plan. But our members spoke and told him they did not agree with what he did. Many leaders would have dug their heels in and fought for “their” plan. But Michael heard the members. Listened to the members. And wrote a letter saying the UFT is withdrawing its support of Medicare Advantage and supporting our members right to Traditional Medicare. And just recently he said at two public meetings of retirees in Florida that he will do whatever it takes to keep Traditional Medicare. He heard the members. Too bad the opposition groups trying to unseat Michael and Unity Caucus didn’t follow suit regarding the NY Health Care Act. They should be called, collectively, inside and outside the UFT, THE HYPOCRITE CAUCUS(es). If the New York Health Care Act passes, Traditional Medicare ends. PERIOD.

Now let’s look at what that would or could lead to.

First, since nobody knows how much it would cost, the cost could be extremely high. The Act includes long term care. I wish everyone had long term care. But long term care costs thousands and thousands of dollars a year. Since nobody at this point knows how many people will need it nobody can possibly know the costs. Where will the money come from?

Second, does anyone think that doctors in NYS will take a pay cut if the pay scale is too low. For those of you who do not know what a Concierge doctor is, they charge between $2000-$3000 a year per person (not family), for the privilege of seeing them. They still charge the patient's insurance company for their service but you can’t see them if you don’t pay the thousands of dollars yearly to them. It’s happening all over Florida and I understand it’s starting to happen in NY as well. So if you had to pay $4,000 or more, doesn’t that sound similar to a premium. Isn’t that another issue that we and the opposition fought against? The patients of concierge doctors see specialists right away. Those who aren’t patients wait much longer to get appointments. Anyone think that wouldn’t happen if the NY Health Care Act passes? For those who rail against greedy private companies you should be railing against greedy doctors. Surely you realize doctors are some of the best paid people in our country.

Third, as one of the sponsors of the bill, State Senator Rivera said at the UFT Retiree General membership meeting, he has no idea if doctors in Florida or other areas outside of NY will accept the plan. He thinks they will but can’t guarantee it. Sounds familiar. The same opposition groups that criticized the Medicare Advantage plan because it could not guarantee doctors outside of NY accepting the Medicare Advantage plan, accept the NYHealth Act which also can’t guarantee that doctors outside of NY will accept the plan. They say the state and plan leaders have three years to work out the details. That’s putting the cart before the horse. Shouldn’t it be worked out before we support it - not according to them.

Fourth, there will be a board to oversee the new plan. I think it was said the board would be made up of 31 people, 3 of which come from the unions. You know what that means? Having 3 out of 31 is almost meaningless. But again the opposition supports this.

Fifth, if you were a young doctor just graduating medical school would you choose to come to NY or go to NJ, Pennsylvania, Connecticut or someone else where you could make much more money.

Sixth, the opposition just highly touted a resolution at the Delegate Assembly that said no UFT leadership could support changes to our health benefits without passage of the new health plan by the DA. THE opposition may say that the DA passed resolutions supporting the NY Health Care Act previously. But was that the same act as the one presently proposed. The answer is no. Shouldn’t the new DA, the one that just passed this resolution be given the opportunity to express their views on this? Of course. Has the opposition suggested this? NO. They are pushing the New York Health act full force. They haven’t officially voted to support it but many in leadership positions in the opposition groups inside and outside the UFT have clearly supported and favored the act by their rhetoric at meetings like the Ex Bd so they are clearly pushing it. If passed, this act will bypass our DA, just what the opposition fought against. Not this time.

This Act will definitely end traditional Medicare. All of the questions I posed above have no answers at this time. Ask them for answers. Listen to what they say.

How much will it cost? If the costs are more than anticipated, where will the money come from?

What happens if too many doctors become concierge doctors? If the act prohibits this (it doesn’t and probably couldn’t) what happens to those who can’t afford to be part of it? Will they have to wait to see family doctors and specialists? Will they have to wait for certain surgeries?

What happens if NYS has to raise fees because doctors aren’t making enough money or not enough doctors are willing to stay in NY? Where does the money come from?

Socialized medicine might have a place in our country. It might be the answer to the terrible problems we have in providing proper medical care for all of our citizens. But it can only succeed at the national level. For those who say it has to start somewhere? Nonsense. It can’t work in one state or two. It can only work, if at all at the national level.

Stop criticizing UFT leadership since that leadership heard the members and is now supporting what the members clearly wanted.

Stop pushing a socialized medical plan for everyone in NY State because you have socialistic ideals (by the way so do I) without having the answers to the many questions being asked.

Get answers before this goes any further. Then take it to the DA. That’s what the present membership wants.