Delaware Public Media | by Paul Kiefer Delaware’s General Assembly will hold a special session later this month to vote on a bill addressing concerns about the state’s transition to a Medicare Advantage Plans for retired state employees. The legislation — sponsored by leadership from both parties in the Senate and House — would task the state’s Department of Human Resources with assisting state pensioners with the transition and add guardrails to the new insurance plans for retired state employees. It comes after a lawsuit by the retiree advocacy group […]
How enraged former state workers are fighting back against health plan changes
The News Journal | by Meredith Newman A group of Delaware retirees, including a former state senator, has filed a lawsuit seeking to block changes to state retirees’ health care plan. The switch to Medicare Advantage has sparked an outcry from many state retirees, who feel Delaware has misled them and is now forcing them to accept health insurance that could deny or delay care. It has led the retirees to fight back: The filing of the lawsuit this week in Delaware Superior Court argues the state failed to follow […]
State retirees protest Carney admin’s Medicare Advantage plan
Delaware Live | by Charlie Meggison Delaware state government retirees gathered in Wilmington Tuesday with a message for Gov. John Carney and his political appointees: “Keep your hands off our Medicare.” The crowd of mostly senior citizens planned to protest outside the Carvel State Office Building, where the governor, attorney general and New Castle County lawmakers have offices. Rain forced them indoors to the city and county council chambers, one building over. It was there that they reiterated their disdain for the state’s plan to shift retirees and pensioners from […]
RISE Delaware rallies to stop private healthcare for state retirees
Delaware Public Media | by Rachel Sawicki More than 50 state retirees rallied in Wilmington Tuesday to oppose moving their healthcare coverage to a Medicare Advantage plan. Though lawmakers approved the switch as part of the 2023 state budget in June, many say they were not fully informed of the details. Former State Senator Karen Peterson says she was misled too, with newsletters sent to her touting a plan better than what she has now. “Medicare Advantage is quick to deny, deny, deny,” Peterson says. “That’s how they make their […]
Delaware retired state workers challenge switch to Medicare Advantage
WDEL | by Mark Fowser Medicare open enrollment is creating a lot of concern for thousands of retirees who worked for the State of Delaware, thanks to a decision made months ago that many are just now finding out about. It’s a decision with wide-ranging ramifications. Tuesday, state retirees and their spouses, family members and supporters gathered at the City County Building in Wilmington for a rally to show and organize opposition to the switch to Highmark Medicare Advantage from their negotiated benefits packages. Already, organizers opposed to the switch […]
Delaware retirees protest switch to Medicare Advantage plan
Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen More than 50 state retirees, legislators and other Delawareans against the state’s move to a Medicare Advantage Plan rallied against the change in the Louis L. Redding City-County Council Chambers Tuesday. The rally was led by Retirees Investing in Social Equity Delaware, also known as RISE Delaware. The organization, formed by retiring Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, and New Castle County Councilwoman Lisa Diller, has led the fight against the change for retirees since late August. On Sept. 25, RISE Delaware and former […]
Lawsuit filed over change to Medicare Advantage Plan
Insurance NewsNet | by Joe Edelen Less than a week before the start of Delaware’s Medicare Open Enrollment period, state retirees have filed a lawsuit over the change to a Medicare Advantage Plan. Retirees Investing in Social Equity Delaware, or RiseDelaware, filed a formal complaint in the Delaware Superior Court on Sunday, alleging the involved state agencies did not adhere to certain procedures under the Delaware Administrative Procedures Act “while enforcing statutory powers.” The lawsuit aims to halt the state’s implementation of its new Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware’s […]
State retirees sue to stop Medicare Advantage plan
Delaware Live | by Charlie Meggison A group of Delaware state government retirees and pensioners has filed suit against two government officials tasked with implementing a change in their health insurance coverage. RISE Delaware, an organization formed after state officials announced a plan to transition retirees to a Medicare Advantage program, filed the lawsuit in the Delaware Superior Court. RISE hopes to stop the transition to the Advantage program, which is set to take place on Jan. 1, 2023. “I have worked and contributed to Medicare my entire adult life,” […]
Lawsuit filed over change to Medicare Advantage Plan in Delaware
Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen Less than a week before the start of Delaware’s Medicare Open Enrollment period, state retirees have filed a lawsuit over the change to a Medicare Advantage Plan. Retirees Investing in Social Equity Delaware, or RiseDelaware, filed a formal complaint in the Delaware Superior Court on Sunday, alleging the involved state agencies did not adhere to certain procedures under the Delaware Administrative Procedures Act “while enforcing statutory powers.” The lawsuit aims to halt the state’s implementation of its new Highmark Blue Cross Blue […]
Retiree advocacy group sues state officials to stop switch to Medicare Advantage plan
Delaware Public Media | by Paul Kiefer The retiree advocacy group RiseDelaware is suing the state in state Superior Court over its decision to move retired state employees to a Medicare Advantage plan administered by Highmark Delaware. The group, led by state Rep. John Kowalko and New Castle County Councilperson Lisa Diller, claims state officials did not adequately inform lawmakers and retirees of the decision. In February, the state’s Pension Benefit Committee awarded a three-year contract to Highmark Delaware, longtime insurance provider for state employees, to administer the Medicare Advantage […]