Case over retiree health insurance moves toward trial
The switch was designed to save the city about
FAVORS CITY
But several retirees objected, saying the city had no right to change their health insurance and that the Humana plan was not as good as their existing one.
A group of more than 100 retirees filed suit against the city several months ago.
The city did move 65 retirees who are not part of the lawsuit over to the Humana plan.
The suit asked the court to order the city to shift those 65 individuals back to the self-insured plan, but the city interpreted the court's orders differently and did not do so.
Muller's recent ruling was in favor of the city.
"This notwithstanding, to the extent that the decision and order did not expressly direct the city to transfer the 65 similarly situated
MORE MONEY
The ruling also said the retirees in the lawsuit must increase the amount of money they have to put up in case they lose the challenge.
The retirees had been ordered to put up
Muller ruled that the retirees must now put up another
"The court further finds that the additional undertaking requested by the city in the amount of
"Based upon the foregoing, the city's motion to modify the preliminary injunction is granted to the extent that the undertaking is increased by
OFFERS COMPROMISE
While the city was found not to be in contempt, the case will still go forward to trial.
So far, the city has spent
Mayor
"The Humana plan was filled with a lot of negative emotions, and that is not what we set out to do," he said.
"Health care is very emotional, and we have to get past the emotions and get down to facts."
Calnon said the city would settle for a government-operated
Story continues below video
The Blue Plan, by comparison, he said, costs each retiree up to
"This is the plan that I personally have, and I haven't paid a dime for medical treatment," Calnon said.
Under the compromise plan, retirees would have to pay
The compromise plan would also call for a
'BROKEN PROMISE'
"If you read his previous ruling, he ordered the city to move all those on Humana back," Brandstetter said.
"They ignored his order, and he put up with it."
Brandstetter also said the ruling does not change the retirees' premise for the suit.
"All of the collective-bargaining agreements that retirees on
"The Humana plan is not, and that can't be changed."
As for the mayor's offer to negotiate a different plan, Brandstetter said the retirees are not interested.
"I reiterate that the city is compelled by law and by collective-bargaining agreements to replace the health-care coverage we retired under with a plan that is as good or better than the plan currently in place," he said.
"None of the mayor's proposals has met this caveat."
GAVE UP RAISES
"We will not accept any plan that does not meet the parameters of the self-insured/
"We worked hard for the city and have the health-care requirements in our contracts.
"Those are promises made in writing, and we still can't depend on the city administration to keep what was agreed to and signed by all parties."
Brandstetter, a retired city firefighter, said his union gave up raises three out of four years in one contract in order to keep the health-insurance plan.
"Now they want the health care, too," he said.
"Not going to happen."
Email
Twitter: @jlotemplio
___
(c)2016 the Press-Republican (Plattsburgh, N.Y.)
Visit the Press-Republican (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) at pressrepublican.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
When An Insurance Company CEO Becomes A Patient
Is Penn’s retirement plan paying too much in fees?
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News