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To the editor:
I’m sure Harry Weiner means well, but he has his facts wrong and shouldn’t be attacking Marianne Pizzitola, the President of The New York City Organization of Public Service Retirees (NYCOPSR) (See “The Claim Game”, Oct. 14).
The procedure for retirees to receive a refund for illegally charged co-pays in 2022 is a pain in the butt; no disagreement from me. But it is also unavoidable.
The defendants (the city and EmblemHealth) insisted on retirees having to show documentation that the co-pays were actually charged and paid since defendants’ own records cannot confirm that – and a court would have required the same should NYCOPSR have litigated the case through trial and appeal (a process that would have taken years).
Under this settlement agreement, retirees have two months to collect the necessary documentation -- receipts, credit card statements, bank statements, cancelled checks, doctors’ letters, etc. And if they need more time, they can mail in the claim form without attaching the documentation (they must circle “Yes” on each line indicating that they will be submitting proof of payment), and the settlement administrator (Atticus) will give them another month to “cure” – come up with that missing documentation.
And that is on top of the month that the administrator will take to notify them of the need to cure. So, in total, retirees have 4 months to obtain the required documentation.
Or the retiree can choose not to supply any documentation at all and still get a 40 percent refund up to $100 (an option that would not have been available at trial).
Is the process perfect or easy? No. But it was the result of lots of people trying to come up with a compromise that would work for everyone and avoid the delay and uncertainty of trial.
My bigger beef with Mr. Weiner is his ad hominem attacks on Marianne. They are just uncalled for.
I have been involved with retirees who were unhappy with the prospect of being forced into Medicare Advantage since I joined NYCOPSR in early 2022. Some groups were saying they were going to do something to stop the forced move.
No one did - except Marianne. She made it happen.
And she made the process of organizing hundreds of thousands of retirees (during a pandemic) to take on City Hall look easy. It wasn’t.
Because of Marianne and the NYCOPSR (and their lawyers), retirees have had access to Traditional Medicare for the past five years and had no copays in 2023 and 2024.
So, instead of griping, may I suggest Mr. Weiner read Teddy Roosevelt’s famous “Man in the Arena” speech. Stop carping and start helping.
Ellen S. Rieser, Esq.,
The author is a member of NYCOPSR and retired from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Office of the General Counsel.
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corodriguez2000
Thank god for Mary Ann and the organization designed to protect retirees not only from the city trying to reduce retirees medical benefits. Now retirees have to watch the leaders of the MLC especially Mulgrew and Garrido trying to trade away medicare for subpar medicare advantage plans for raises. Intro 1008 has 23 city council supporters so far and I hope we 34 to override a veto by the mayor. I cannot understand why our MLC union leaders are to trying to stop this bill from becoming law. It helps all retirees to get the medical benefits we were promised. Does not infringe the unions in any way except that they can't hurt retirees to get better raises. I hope and pray for more successes for Mary Ann.
Wednesday, October 21 Report this
Williamshenton
When has expressing an opinion that differs from someone become an attack?
Given the information Mr. Weiner had when he wrote his letter, his opinion had justification. I knew of someone who hadn’t even received their Atticus mailing and claim number as of that date. Ergo, there were some folks who didn’t have two months as Ms. Reiser states.
We hadn’t been told that it wasn’t possible to simply ask the court for a 1 or 2 month extension. Getting the final disposition hearing on the Court’s calendar could take six months.
We all appreciate that Ms. Pizzitola has accomplished more than anyone else could have done.
There are times, however, when we aren’t told all of the facts.
Thursday, October 22 Report this
RayMarkey
Ms Reiser writes "So, instead of griping, may I suggest Mr. Weiner read Teddy Roosevelt's famous "Man in the Arena" speech. Stop carping and start helping."
Not quite sure she knows Mr Weiner's background when it comes to fighting for retirees. He is not a newcomer to this fight. In fact he has been in the middle of the battle to protect retirees healthcare for quite some time.
Here is a quote of his from Work-Bites article by Joe Maniscalco over two years ago speaking about Mayor Adams and Medicare Advantage, "Harry Weiner, a retiree from the New York Housing Authority, told Work-Bites it is time for both Mayor Adams and the heads of the MLC to "cease and desist" He wanted them "To stop spending taxpayer dollars and union dues, respectively, on endless litigation against retirees".
If you do a google you will find many references to Harry in the Chief and many other publications.
Harry Weiner spent over 30 years working for the New York City Housing Authority before retiring in 2008.
Last I knew disagreeing with someone does mean they are not helping to move the struggle forward. In fact, it does exactly that. Harry deserves better from Ms Rieser.
A tip of the cap to Harry Weiner. A true trade unionist and along time fighter for retirees.
Ray Markey
President New York Public Library Retirees Association
President (Ret) New York Public Library Guild
VP (Ret) DC37, AFSCME
Thursday, October 22 Report this
DOTHERIGHTTHING
EVEN FIREMEN NEED HEROES LIKE MARIANNE PIZZITOLA.
The Unions & City betrayed the promise made to NYC Medicare Retirees .Meanwhile, the NYC Council refuses to protect the promise made by passing Intro Bill 1008.Proving the NYC Council is owned by UFT DC37 still waiting for them to prove me wrong…...
SHAME ON THEM ALL!
Thursday, October 22 Report this