Retired NYC cops, firefighters, and teachers ride to Albany in ‘life or death’ healthcare fight

City workers and the widows of first responders who have died protecting New York say the city is trying to take away their healthcare.

More than 100 public service retirees, including first responders, packed into two large buses outside of City Hall on Thursday morning and headed to Albany, where they said they are prepared to fight for their lives.

The bus and its passengers were bound for the New York State Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, to argue in support of their fight to prevent the city from moving their coverage to the Medicare Advantage Plan, which would drive up their healthcare costs.

This battle has been going on since the de Blasio administration. During his tenure, the Municipal Labor Committee pushed forward a plan to move over the Big Apple’s some 250,000 retired civil servants’ healthcare program to the Medicare Advantage Plan. The decision impacted retired cops, firefighters, correction officers, EMTs and even school lunch personnel.

While the city says this change would save up to $600 million a year, those who have given their adulthood for the city charge that it would in a medical nightmare.

Over 100 Public Service Retirees, including first responders, packed into two large buses outside of City Hall on Thursday morning and headed to Albany, where they said they are prepared to fight for their lives.Photo by Dean Moses

“Medicare Advantage is a privatized alternative to Medicare. It’s not Medicare, and it’s not an advantage. Many doctors and hospitals do not accept it,” President of the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees and retired EMS worker Marianne Pizzitola told amNewYork. “We have a gentleman who goes to Mayo Clinic for prostate cancer, and he has joint disease. He needs gel injections in his knees. Mayo Clinic doesn’t accept those plans. So, what happens to him? He’s in his 70s. He now has to drive an hour away in his 70s to find a doctor who will accept him.”

Pizzitola says the families of police officers who have given the ultimate sacrifice and died in the line of duty would also have their healthcare stripped back, along with first responders still living with 9/11 related illnesses.

“Top-paid cops and firefighters who are still alive in their 80s and 90s. Their pay in 1979 was $15,000. Today, they’re still alive in their 80s and 90s, and their pensions are $26,000. They will not be able to afford to pay for their doctor out of network to get the care that they need, and pray that the insurance company reimburses them. That is the unfairness of this,” Pizzitola said.

Over 100 Public Service Retirees, including first responders, packed into two large buses outside of City Hall on Thursday morning and headed to Albany, where they said they are prepared to fight for their lives.Photo by Dean Moses

The NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees has brought several winning lawsuits against the city but says that the Adams administration is refusing to back down and continuing to make appeals. Despite many of their advanced ages, the seniors say they themselves are determined to continue the fight.

At age 92, Evelyn Rich climbed onto the Albany-bound bus, where she plans to join many others who will lend their voices to the case. She says that after decades of public service as a teacher, she feels her contributions are being tossed away without thanks.

“There are a lot of Brown and Black people in this city, in these low-level jobs, working or retired, who need their health care. It is very important. Health care is a human right,” Rich said.

“This is a life and death issue. No doubt this is putting people in a financial crisis, and people are dealing with the mental stress of the uncertainty,” Marte said. “We shouldn’t put our most vulnerable people, our retirees, our seniors, in a position where they have to worry about what’s going to happen next week, what’s going to happen next month.”Photo by Dean Moses

The group lamented Mayor Eric Adams for continuing the fight he inherited from de Blasio. Still, they have found some supporters in several mayoral candidates and those on the City Council level, including City Council Member Christopher Marte (D-Manhattan), who cheered on as they boarded the buses.

“This is a life and death issue. No doubt this is putting people in a financial crisis, and people are dealing with the mental stress of the uncertainty,” Marte said. “We shouldn’t put our most vulnerable people, our retirees, our seniors, in a position where they have to worry about what’s going to happen next week, what’s going to happen next month.”

“The safety and care of the brave men and women who serve our city is a top priority. We continue to pursue the Medicare Advantage plan — which would improve upon retirees’ current health plan and save hundreds of millions of dollars annually — and await the court’s next decision this year,” a spokesperson for City Hall said.