Health Insurance Moratorium Extender for School District Employees
Level of Government: State
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As a politically active member of the New York State United Teachers, I am writing again to request your support for legislation that protects retired public employees from unilateral cuts in their health insurance benefits (S.2342 by Senator Savino/A.4628 by Assemblymember Weinstein).
In recent years, the urge to contain or reduce costs has caused many public employers to abandon their long-standing commitment to provide health insurance coverage for retirees throughout their retirement years. Fortunately, with your support, we have been able to rely on a law that protects many retired educational employees from unilateral action by their former employers who seek to unilaterally diminish their share of health insurance premium payments or to cut the benefits provided under their current health insurance plans. Without your continued support, this law will expire on May 15, 2009.
You should also know, that despite the best intentions of the Legislature and the Governor to limit the ability of employers to cut retiree health insurance and health care benefits, several unscrupulous employers continue to attempt to skirt current law in order to cut retiree health benefits arbitrarily (Mary Jones, et al, vs. Board of Education of the Watertown Central School District; Alice Baker, et al, vs. Board of Education of the Wappinger's Central School District).
While I recognize that many school districts are stretched, cutting long-promised health care benefits to seniors living on fixed incomes is unfair and will only result in placing greater strain on our public health care system. Since 1994, the Legislature has recognized this fact and current law protects many retired educational employees from unilateral action by their former employers who seek to decrease their coverage or increase their payments. Unfortunately, however, this law is only temporary and is due to expire on May 15, 2009.
I thank you for your past support and urge you to continue your strong support in enacting this legislation during the 2009 Legislative Session.
Thank you.
Your Name Here
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Bill Status Date: 2/26/2009
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