RISE Delaware Rally to Urge Delaware Legislators to Ensure Benefits Promised to Delaware Retirees and Workers
RISE Delaware is hosting a rally on June 13, 2023, on the Green at Legislative Hall in Dover from 1PM to 2:30PM to request the General Assembly to pass legislation that will keep the benefits promised to State retirees and not move them to a privatized Medicare Advantage plan.
RISE Delaware is asking all Delaware legislators to stand up for the rights of current and future retirees.
RISE Co-Founder John Kowalko said, “we are asking the General Assembly to legislate retention of the Medicare Supplemental plan for current and future retirees, remove Medicare Advantage as an option in Delaware Code, specifically removing the words ‘or constructed as a plan under Medicare part C’, and codify as much as 2% in the state budget in order to pay for retiree health benefits now and into the future.”
“We thank Rep. Carson for introducing HB152, changing the makeup of the SEBC, and for removing objectional epilog language regarding Medicare Advantage,” said Connie Merlet, RISE Delaware Board Member. “Delaware legislators must support the tens of thousands of state workers who have tirelessly served the people of Delaware. They should take further legislative action to preserve the benefits and promises made to these hard-working employees and their families.”
“It is now time for our elected representatives to demonstrate their resolve and ensure that all obligations and benefits that were promised to state employees and retirees are kept,” said Lisa Diller, RISE Co-Founder.
Retirees will meet across from Legislative Hall and call on legislators to do their jobs and overrule an administration standing in the way of justice.
“Original Medicare plus the Medicfill plan for State retirees is a right they have earned and paid for and this Administration’s attempts to privatize Medicare must be overruled by legislators,” said former Representative John Kowalko.
From everything I’ve heard about these subcommittee meetings, it sounds like the state’s healthcare system, even without medicare advantage, is hurtling toward a major catastrophy. Doesn’t sound like MA is happening anyway for current retirees, which is good. But the retired legislators who did nothing to solve the problem for the last 30yrs but throw more money at it, even in retirement are offering the same solution that got us here in the first place. I’m not supportive of MA, but the fact that the only alternative solution is for the state to add another $100m and growing to its costs just so that nobody has to change anything, sounds like an amazingly unsustainable solution. Its the type of stuff you see in historic documentaries about how years ago people fucked things up with politically expedient decsions.
From what I gleaned from talking with state election officials (Democrats) is that legislators threw no money at the problem, letting the problem languish for some 17 years. I detest that phrase, “throwing money at the problem” because that normally means the solution to the problem was actually blocked. If the legislature makes provisions, those provisions, I believe, will solve the problem.
On another note, none other than Joe Biden suggested in 2008, that a state like Delaware, small, could be used to test single payer statewide, build a constituency for single payer here, then use that constituency to pass a national single payer system. Lobbying in a private funding election system is an almost insurmountable problem.
Thanks Paul
Medicare Advantage is yet another attempt by the Republicans to “prove” private enterprise is cheaper and better then government run. Don’t be a sucker, it’s not and most people that try it quit in a year or two. As for the astounding cost of medical it will break us all at some point, it is based on ever increasing cost and with the famed “profit motive” firmly in place. I’ve been retired for 8 years and thought myself well prepared, ah what a fool I’ve been! I’m on traditional Medicare and like it just as it is. But now feel threatened in retirement by the astounding cost of medical, drugs and dental. Half a million Americans go bankrupt every year due to medical, there is a damn good reason why.
Private equity is a shitty way to fund medical services, and education as well.Higher costs and a genuine warping of the balancing act between what is needed and what is profitable.
URGENT ACTION NEEDED!
RALLY TUESDAY JUNE 13TH IN DOVER
RISE Delaware has scheduled a rally for this coming Tuesday June 13th in Dover on the Green outside Legislative Hall. The rally will be from 1PM – 2:30PM and a raindate is scheduled for Thursday the 15th.
RISE leadership needs you and your families to come to Dover and participate in the rally to preserve the benefits promised and owed to all state workers and their families.
WE CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF A LARGE TURNOUT FOR THIS EVENT IN ORDER TO SIGNAL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING THE PROMISES MADE TO RETIREES AND ALL STATE WORKERS.
By attending you will be sending a message to all of the elected officials that you’ve earned and paid for your health care benefits and that they are the ones who have to ensure that you and your families are protected as promised.
REMEMBER, THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YOU, WHO VOTE, AND YOUR VOTE MUST BE EARNED BY THOSE YOU CHOOSE TO ELECT.
i would not take part C Medicare advantage for free!
I was self-employed but i pay substantially for part B and a top supplement and Part D drug. worth every penny. Career State retirees worked for low wages they deserve proper care!