Delaware Public Media | by Paul Kiefer Delaware’s General Assembly will not convene for a special session Wednesday to discuss the controversial plan to transfer retired state employees from Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan administered by Highmark Delaware. Lawmakers were scheduled to reconvene to consider a bill that would have provided additional oversight of the transition — a way for the state to track whether retirees were more often denied coverage under the Medicare Advantage plan than under their current plans, for example. That changed after a Superior Court […]

The News Journal | by Meredith Newman In a major reversal, Delaware officials voted on Monday to keep the current health care plan for state retirees for 2023. The Carney administration had said for weeks the Medicare Advantage plan would be moving forward and could not be changed, even when lawmakers asked for a pause. But that changed last week. A Superior Court judge sided with state retirees in a lawsuit, temporarily blocking the Medicare Advantage plan from going into effect next year. The State Employee Benefits Committee, to comply […]

Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen The State Employee Benefits Committee approved a 12-month contract extension of the Special Medicfill Supplement plan during the committee’s monthly meeting on Monday. The plan, which was set to be replaced by the state’s Medicare Advantage plan on Jan. 1, will be extended through Dec. 31, 2023 as a result of the committee’s vote. The extension allows the State Employee Benefits Committee to comply with Delaware Superior Court Judge Calvin L. Scott Jr.’s Oct. 19 ruling in which the implementation of the […]

Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen Retirees Investing in Social Equity (RISE) Delaware will hold its third rally Wednesday at Legislative Hall before both chambers of Delaware’s General Assembly reconvene. The organization invites supporters to arrive at Legislative Hall by 3 p.m. before the start of the scheduled House and Senate sessions at 4 p.m. Guests are encouraged to wear blue and bring signs for the event. On Oct. 19, RISE Delaware was victorious in court after a Delaware Superior Court judge issued a temporary stay on the […]

WDEL | by Mark Fowser Developments are expected soon on the legislative and judicial fronts regarding the future of the State of Delaware’s program to convert to a Medicare Advantage plan, affecting more than 30,000 state retirees and their families. The Special Medicfill Supplement plan would be replaced with a Medicare Advantage plan that many believe would be inferior. But, many found out about it just weeks ago. After some of the retirees formed a group known as Rise Delaware, they went to court and have been able to obtain […]

Cape Gazette | by Ryan Mavity After the Delaware Supreme Court stayed a proposed change to Medicare supplement insurance for state retirees, a state legislator has filed a bill that would give former state employees the option to keep their existing supplement or choose a new Medicare Advantage plan. Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, filed a bill Oct. 20 and said the bill, when passed, will allow the Legislature to fulfill its promises and obligations to its retirees by allowing them to choose between a new Medicare Advantage option or the […]

The News Journal | by Meredith Newman A Delaware Superior Court judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked an effort to move state retirees to a Medicare Advantage health care plan. Judge Calvin Scott ruled that the state shall “take all necessary and proper steps” to ensure that retirees’ current health care insurance and benefits “remain in full force and effect.” A trial will be held to make a final determination on the future of the Medicare Advantage plan, the ruling stated. The temporary block is a major win for a group […]

Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen Delaware Superior Court granted a motion Wednesday to delay the state’s implementation of its new Medicare Advantage plan. The decision marks a significant victory for state retirees, including the cases’ plaintiffs: Retirees Investing in Social Equity (RISE) Delaware, state retiree Thomas Penoza and former state Sen. Karen Peterson. Since August, pensioners have organized against the switch, citing concerns that retirees and legislators were not a part of discussions regarding the change. The lawsuit filed by RISE Delaware, Mr. Penoza and Ms. Peterson […]

Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle gathered on the east steps of Legislative Hall Wednesday to call on the state to halt its implementation of a new Medicare Advantage plan for pensioners. Just over a week after a rally against the state’s move to a Medicare Advantage plan was held in Wilmington, more than 150 state retirees and others opposing the change gathered. Both events were led by Retirees Investing in Social Equity Delaware, or RISE Delaware, which is an organization […]

Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen Delaware’s House of Representatives and Senate will reconvene Oct. 26 to consider legislation that would provide oversight to the state’s move to a Medicare Advantage plan for its pensioners. The legislation, Senate Bill 348, would establish a State Medicare Advantage Accountability, Measurement and Reporting Subcommittee of elected officials who would be responsible for regular provision of the new plan. The group would also be tasked with releasing quarterly reports regarding the state’s compliance with its contract with Highmark Delaware, starting in April […]