The Issue: Councilman Charles Barron’s opposition to changing the health plan of retired city workers.
Your editorial about Charles Barron trying to help NYC retirees keep the health care they worked for and were promised was dead wrong (“Beat Barron’s Medicare Mischief,” Editorial, June 25).
For starters, the Aetna plan is a far inferior plan to what we already have. If the plan is so good, why are people being forced to go into it? You’d think they’d be running to sign up.
And do you realize that Aetna is being investigated for fraud?
I could go on and on, but if you have the courage to learn and print the truth, send someone from your newspaper to get the facts straight on this important issue.
Joanne MacDonald
Brooklyn
Your argument that retirees are reaping benefits even though they retired outside the city reeks of hypocrisy. How many Post articles deride living conditions in New York City?
After spending well over 30 years in city service, every retiree has the right to leave the city to retire anywhere they choose without relinquishing their hard-earned pension and health benefits. Diminished health care for seniors is health care denied.
M. Klein
New Hyde Park
I read the article and was very disappointed with The Post’s point of view. I am a retired New York City teacher who worked for 36 years. For the past 20 years, I have had Medicare and a Medigap policy. Both I was promised when I started working, to cover my health needs. Now the city has no money!
What about the millions being spent on migrants coming to our country? I’ve paid my dues. Don’t I deserve what I was promised?
Ida Weisser
Queens
Many public service employees work their entire careers knowing what their retirement benefits will be and plan accordingly.
Now the city wants to pull the rug out from under them by altering their heath-insurance coverage. The argument that because they’re moving out-of-state New York City will suffer as a result is misleading, since their pensions are not taxable under New York state law. Maybe they’re only moving because of high crime.
If benefits need to be changed to reduce costs, then only new hires should be impacted. Then they will know what they signed up for.
George Rath
Congers
The Post’s editorial board insinuates that the opinions of New York City retirees who live out-of-state should not be respected by the City Council. Does the Post show similar disrespect for all its subscribers who live out-of-state?
Richard Sherman
Margate, Fla
Councilman Charles Barron is not a mischief-maker, as a Post editorial alleges.
Instead, it’s clear that he read City Comptroller Brad Landers’ refusal to register the Medicare Advantage plan backed by Mayor Adams. Lander cited the fact that Advantage plans are riddled with allegations around fraud, abuse, overbilling and denial of medically necessary care.
By the way, this disturbing trend is ongoing at nine of the top 10 insurers. That number includes CVS Health, which owns Aetna.
Gus Chappory
Greenlawn
Mayor Adams is hurting ex-city workers while he helps illegal immigrants with freebies, including free medical care and free housing in first-class hotels, plus big raises for cops and teachers.
This whole ugly affair reminds me of the movie, “A Bronx Tale.”
In that film, Robert DeNiro’s son (who has worked at gangster Sonny’s bar earning money) is approached by his father. DeNiro then snatches the money from the kid has earned, decrying its origins. The kid yells, “Dad, Sonny was right! The working man is a sucker!”
And that is what the corrupt union leadership and Adams have made out of the 250,000 honest, loyal workers who form the backbone of this city: suckers.
Anthony Mignone
Bound Brook, NJ
This story originally appeared on NYPost
