NYC Retirees Healthcare Fight For Traditional Medicare: Update With Marianne Pizzitola
NYC Retirees Healthcare Fight For Traditional Medicare: Update With Marianne Pizzitola
Staten Islander News sat down with Marianne Pizzitola of NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees to discuss the importance of continuing to fight for traditional Medicare over Medicare “Advantage.” As Marianne and many others have stated, it’s not actually Medicare and it’s not an advantage.
What does that mean? Medicare Advantage is supposed to cover everything that traditional Medicare does. However, in practice, that doesn’t actually happen. This is a stark example of how public-private partnerships harm people. Medicare Advantage is a plan that people can enroll in when they turn 65, just like regular Medicare. But instead of seeing any doctor they want, they have a very limited network to choose from. And if their doctor says they need something (a test or treatment usually), they have to convince a non medical professional at the insurance company that they need it.
Often the insurance company denies their claims, after which there is a five step appeals process that they or their doctor must go through. This is because it’s actually private insurance whose goal is profit maximization. The only way they can profit is by denying care and holding more of the monthly fee paid to them by the government.
It should be noted that, as Marianne discussed, traditional Medicare has no monthly premium the government must pay for each person. It is a cost for care model. An enrollee goes to the doctor, Medicare pays the bill. They get a test, Medicare pays. There’s no monthly cost to it. With Medicare Advantage, however, the federal government pays a premium each month for each enrollee, regardless of if they are sick or healthy or even use the care provided. The model is based on perks and things that people will do to keep themselves healthy.
This is totally overlooking the fact that most Medicare retirees have had a lifetime of bad habits and no nutrition education. So they’re not going to the gym that they are now members of. They’re not eating better. They’ll do the same thing they always do, but when they do get sick, there won’t be any coverage for it because it will be denied or delayed. This was an idea in the 1980s and 90s that it would save the government, but it’s done anything but. It just makes it so the insurance companies profit at the expense of those with the inferior insurance, and employees can be auto enrolled without their consent into this inferior program.
Since the election is happening soon, you can learn more about who supports the retirees and who doesn’t at http://retiredlaborstrong.nyc
See our previous articles earlier this week, about the court case issues and about the politicians who have come on board and where the fight is now that the court case was lost.
Staten Islander News Service Staff Writer
This byline indicates that this article was penned by a member/members of the Staten Islander News Organization office team. Our staff writers are the backbone of our newspaper, performing all sorts of important tasks like conducting interviews, investigating leads, besides writing the news stories you see.
Thank you guys again for the latest update. But it’s all outdated now. This moves fast. I think they do that so no one can keep up and the union members give up. People have lives to live. It is a shame.
We still need health care. We didn’t all die off.
no not quite yet
let’s call our elected once again
it is about that time
friends let’s get those phones hot
If you put a fire under their asses they will jump. They have to be motivated. Call. Good idea.
Let your elected officials know they aren’t doing enough. Imagine what the city could be if we all called them and bothered them about important issues? Instead most of us, myself included, sit back and sip on a beer while I watch the “news.” But at least I’m honest bout it. haha
G-D BLESS YOU MARIANNE. WE REALLY DO LOVE YOU.
I for one think this is all the wrong approach they elected officials need to know we are out there and in the streets and clogging up their phone lines and mail boxes and email inboxes with letters because we won’t be shut up or silenced but no they try the lawsuits and put it all on the shoulders of a few. It is really past the time. Everyone not doing something should do something now and that is true if you are active union, retired, family member, or just a person who is fed up with the nonstop BS and treating human beings like
You tell it like it is. They want re-election. A baby wants a bottle? Politicinas want re-election.
Plain and simple.
Is it really so simple, though? They want to get elected but they don’t have to keep a single promise.
Not one.
I want a political system where if they don’t keep three promises we get a new election and vote of no confidence.
NYC would benefit from some accountability.
🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷
Borinqueños
Don’t let up on this. You guys have gone too far to quit now. Don’t let them win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I pray for all the retirees and hope your situation ends favorably for you all.
Donate your time or money. Don’t be stingy about this. The war is not over yet. I know some retired LEO people in the SBA LBA PBA and no one is giving money or time. You guys have to step up and get your heads into this, please.
Same here. Family full of retired NYS LEO NYC other counties… No one is doing a thing. All they do is sit around and watch *** all day and talk about moving to the sticks in Florida or Arkansas. I’m like…you’re Puerto Rican. They don’t necessarily want you out there. Let’s be real. They are preoccupied with dumb s***. Meanwhile… *sigh* I mean, get real… I am so sick and tired of hearing them bitch and complain and do nothing while people like the lady in this interview are doing all the heavy lifting. Lazy people. Do more.
Thank you for all the hard work. Much appreciated. I’m going to donate $10 this week. I have the extra cash.
Are you thanking Charlie or Marianna?
Please don’t let the momentum fade on thius issue.
There are new issues coming up every week and I don’t weant this to get pushed to the bottom of the news cycle.
I appreciate that the staten Island news has this article pinned at the thrid slot of new articles.
I get upset, though. I know a lot of people who have read this and we’ve talked about the article even. But that was months ago and so far I’m the first to cvomment,
Comment, please. Otherwise I feel like no one is really focused on this but Maryanne and thew few people around her.
Granted I know most people are not going to really get out there and attend rallies. I don’t for one but like many retirees I have health issues and a rally really isn’t going to ever work at this point in my existence.
I talk to people about this. Family friends and people I worked with at one time. I bring the topic up every time we get together or talk on the phone. Many family and friends are also retirees of one thing or another police ems teachers firefighters city workers well a lot of people really.
13 comments? How many retirees read this paper? You comment on everything but this story. That really says something. Your mind is up your ass. You should care about this first and foremost. What is going on with you people?
[…] note: We previously interviewed Marianne Pizzitola about the latest updates, including losing the case at New…. Now all eyes turn to the election, before which the mayor could bring retirees to his side by […]
Why are we still going back and forth? Are they going to keep doing this until everyone has grown too old to do anything? I’m not joking. This is nefariousness. I am concerned. People care less and less about other people. When will that start going to retired emergency services people? They want old people out of the way. It’s like the Corona nursing home thing with the old governor. For me this seems like a young versus old thing. The young being disrespectful and the old not standing up. Holler back anyone who agrees on this. You going to deprive 911 survivors health care? Are you serious? Are you serious?
u nailed it
just wait us out
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My two cents on this. I just got a new avatar on fiver. So let’s go.
OK first thing is that this is outdated. You are fighting for ancient medical tech.
Fighting to get toxic treatments. Fighting for the old.
They got whole body scanners now like Star Trek. DNA blood test to find hidden germs. Amazing.
Don’t be fooled. You’re fighting for access to toxic “treatments” in many cases.
Oh, yeah? Tell that to my pancreas when I don’t get my insulin.