Call-To-Action For Empire Plan Retirees

Following Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal, legislators are now working on their priorities for changes. The change RPEA is pursuing is for the legislature to fully fund 120-day skilled nursing facility (SNF) coverage for Empire Plan Medicare-primary enrollees. Right now, the coverage is zero.

Legislators are preparing their “budget letter” which will be sent to leadership by the end of this week 2/10/23. We want our SNF “add” to be included in their letter. With the exception of the new legislators listed below, all other legislators previously voted to correct this diminution of benefit, as the bill passed unanimously in each house. Governor Hochul vetoed it, for “lack of funding”, and that it should be a “budget issue”. So, let’s make it a budget issue! CALL NOW!

TALKING POINTS

Re-elected Legislators

• I am a retired constituent in the NYSHIP Empire Plan
• Senator ________ Assemblymember __________ voted last session for a bill that passed unanimously (S.8192-A.9215) to give me the same access to skilled nursing facility care (120 days vs. 0) as active enrollees. Governor Hochul vetoed the bill, calling it a “budget issue”.
• I am now asking Senator _______ Assemblymember ______ to support NYSHIP retiree health insurance by including this item in his/her “budget letter” to leadership requesting that it be added to the budget.
• I don’t know the exact cost, but I do know that I already pay the full insurance premium for this lesser benefit. The fiscal committees and budget can work out the details.
• I hope I can count on your continued support. Thank you.

New Legislators

• I am a retired constituent in the New York State Health Insurance Empire Plan.
• Last session the legislature unanimously passed a bill (S.8192-A.9215) to give Medicare-primary retirees the same access to skilled nursing facility care as active enrollees (120 days vs. 0). Governor Hochul vetoed it, calling it a “budget issue”.
• As a new legislator, Senator _____ Assemblymember ________ has a chance to help retirees by including it in his/her “budget letter” to leadership recommending that it be added to the budget.
• I don’t know the exact cost, but I do know that I already pay the full insurance premium for this lesser benefit. The fiscal committees and budget can work out the details.
• I hope I can count on your support
• If you need additional information feel free to contact Ed Farrell, Executive Director of the Retired Public Employees Association: 518-869-2542

FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS: openstates.org/find_your_legislator

LEGISLATIVE SWITCHBOARD
Senate: 518-455-2800
Assembly: 518-455-4100

NEW LEGISLATORS:
Senate
Dean Murray
Monica Martinez
Steven Rhoads
Jack Martins
Alexis Weik
Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick
Iwen Chu
Jessica Scarcella-Spanton
Nathalia Fernandez
Bill Weber
Rob Rolison
Jacob Ashby
Rachel May
Mark Walczyk
Lea Webb
Kristen Gonzalez

Assembly
Ed Flood
Jake Blumencranz
Ari Brown
Brian Curran
Steven Raga
Juan Ardila
Brian Cunningham
Michael Novakhov
Alec Brook-Krasny
Lester Chang
Monique Chandler-Waterman
Nikki Lucus
Sam Pirozzolo
Grace Lee
Edward Gibbs
Manny De Le Santos
Alex Bores
George Alvarez
John Zaccaro
Matt Slater
Dana Levenberg
John McGowan
Sarahana Shrestha
Anil Beephan
Scott Bendett
Scott Gray