Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO Plan was scheduled to start Sept. 1, 2023, but has been halted by a court injunction

On March 9, 2023, the Municipal Labor Committee -- a coalition of NYC public employee unions -- voted in favor of implementing an Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO Plan for NYC’s 250,000 public service retirees.

As discussed at several DC 37 Retirees Association General Membership meetings, the City of New York intended to implement the Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO Plan as of September 1, 2023. 

However, effective July 7, 2023, Judge Frank issued a TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER regarding the AETNA Healthcare Plan being imposed by Mayor Adam's, the City of New York and the Municipal Labor Committee that was due to roll-out on September 1, 2023. Click here for details.

Then, on Aug. 11, the court issued a permanent injunction against implementation of the plan. Click here for details.

The latest from the OLR Website:

"New information and updates regarding the Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO Plan - Aug. 11, 2023

There is no Opt-Out or Waiver deadline in effect due to an injunction issued by the court.

• All current health plans remain in effect. No retiree will be moved into the new Medicare Advantage PPO Plan.
• No opt-out requests made through Aetna via their call center or website will be processed at this time.
• No waiver of City health benefits, enrollment into the Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO Plan or adding the prescription drug rider that has been submitted on the Retiree Special Enrollment/Waiver Form will be processed at this time."

For details and regular updates, visit the following links from the NYC Office of Labor Relations and Aetna websites:

• OLR: Learn the Latest Status of the Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO (www.nyc.gov/hbp)
• OLR: Original announcement Letter from NYC Labor Commissioner Campion.
• Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO Plan Information for City of New York retirees (cony.aetnamedicare.gov or call 1-855-648-0389)

NYC Retirees Continue to Organize Against Managed Care

As the NYC moves ahead with its plans to move public retirees into private Medicare Managed Care, NYC retirees and their attorneys are continuing the fight to keep the traditional Medicare plans they were promised – testifying at an Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO Plan contract hearing, protesting at the MLC and City Hall, and exploring new legal options to stop the latest Managed Care plan.

Effective July 7, 2023, Judge Frank issued a TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER regarding the AETNA Healthcare Plan being imposed by Mayor Adam's, the City of New York and the Municipal Labor Committee that was due to roll-out on September 1, 2023. Click here for details.

We thank the New York City Organization of Public Service Retirees for their leadership on this issue and their ongoing pursuit of legal remedies on this issue. To keep informed and donate toward their ongoing efforts, click here. Their website address is https://www.nycretirees.org/

Background info, news coverage and past court decisions:

• To read news coverage of this development, click here.
• To view photos of protests against NYC MAPP, scroll down.
• To read the Judge's past ruling and the appeals court decision upholding it, click on the links below