I’m a retired crossing guard and member of DC 37, Local 372. In September I finished 30 years of serving our city, with the understanding that the health care I relied on would continue through my retirement.
For decades, New York promised this security to those who dedicated their lives to public service, whether they plowed our streets, staffed our hospitals, or kept our schools open. That promise has been broken.
Since Jan. 1, NYC has begun transitioning municipal employees, pre-65 retirees, and their families onto a new health insurance plan under UnitedHealthcare. This change has already sown confusion, fear, and disruption for thousands of retirees, like me, who depend on consistent, reliable care. Mayor Mamdani must act now to stop this transition before more harm is done.
This change also comes after municipal retirees fought against the last threat to their health care access, the attempted move to Medicare Advantage as a cost saving measure. We won that fight to protect our benefits this past summer, but the battle continues.
For the past 20 years I have relied on a home infusion medication to treat a serious heart condition. Since this new plan has gone into effect, I have spent six hours every day making phone calls to my pharmacy, union, and the Office of Labor Relations trying to find out whether my medication will be covered. I have received no clear answers.
My story is not unique. Retirees are among the most vulnerable populations in our city. Many are living with chronic illnesses or complex medical needs after decades of demanding public service.
Health care is a necessity. The city cannot gamble with our care by pushing us onto a new plan that falls short for people it was supposed to protect.
Retirees across the city are being bounced from agency to agency, insurer to union, with no one taking responsibility. The city directs retirees to the Office of Labor Relations for answers, yet the phone number listed online isn’t active.
We are left scrambling to answer basic questions: Will my doctor still be covered? Will my medication still be approved? Will my treatment be interrupted? For many, finding out the answers to these questions has been next to impossible. Dedicated public servants are hitting a wall when we need help the most, and this is unacceptable.
Health care transitions of this magnitude require transparency, planning, and safeguards. Instead, retirees are being treated as an afterthought. The city has pushed forward with this change without ensuring that providers are accessible, medications are approved, and communication systems are functional. When problems arise, we are left without help.
Mr. Mayor, New York cannot balance its budget on the backs of retirees. Cost savings mean nothing if they come at the expense of people’s health. Once care is disrupted, the damage cannot always be undone.
Retirees kept our end of the bargain. We showed up every day, often under difficult and dangerous conditions, to serve this city. In return, we were promised stability in retirement. That promise must be honored.
We are calling on the mayor to immediately halt the transition to UnitedHealthcare for municipal employees, pre-65 retirees, and their families. The city must pause, listen, and fix what is clearly broken. At the very least, retirees deserve clear answers.
The mayor has the power and the responsibility to stop this transition and protect the health and well-being of the people who gave this city everything before it’s too late.
Berto is a retired NYC crossing guard and member of DC 37, Local 372.
