Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen Delaware Superior Court granted a motion Wednesday to delay the state’s implementation of its new Medicare Advantage plan. The decision marks a significant victory for state retirees, including the cases’ plaintiffs: Retirees Investing in Social Equity (RISE) Delaware, state retiree Thomas Penoza and former state Sen. Karen Peterson. Since August, pensioners have organized against the switch, citing concerns that retirees and legislators were not a part of discussions regarding the change. The lawsuit filed by RISE Delaware, Mr. Penoza and Ms. Peterson […]

Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle gathered on the east steps of Legislative Hall Wednesday to call on the state to halt its implementation of a new Medicare Advantage plan for pensioners. Just over a week after a rally against the state’s move to a Medicare Advantage plan was held in Wilmington, more than 150 state retirees and others opposing the change gathered. Both events were led by Retirees Investing in Social Equity Delaware, or RISE Delaware, which is an organization […]

Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen Delaware’s House of Representatives and Senate will reconvene Oct. 26 to consider legislation that would provide oversight to the state’s move to a Medicare Advantage plan for its pensioners. The legislation, Senate Bill 348, would establish a State Medicare Advantage Accountability, Measurement and Reporting Subcommittee of elected officials who would be responsible for regular provision of the new plan. The group would also be tasked with releasing quarterly reports regarding the state’s compliance with its contract with Highmark Delaware, starting in April […]

The News Journal | by Meredith Newman The Delaware General Assembly will hold a special session later this month to vote on adding more oversight to the transition of state retirees’ health care plan to Medicare Advantage, a move that has been protested across Delaware in recent weeks. Yet retirees are still looking to reject this plan altogether, as a lawsuit seeks to block the transition to Medicare Advantage, a type of Medicare plan offered through a private insurer. The special session, which has bipartisan support in both chambers, will […]

Delaware Public Media | by Paul Kiefer Delaware’s General Assembly will hold a special session later this month to vote on a bill addressing concerns about the state’s transition to a Medicare Advantage Plans for retired state employees. The legislation — sponsored by leadership from both parties in the Senate and House — would task the state’s Department of Human Resources with assisting state pensioners with the transition and add guardrails to the new insurance plans for retired state employees. It comes after a lawsuit by the retiree advocacy group […]

The News Journal | by Meredith Newman A group of Delaware retirees, including a former state senator, has filed a lawsuit seeking to block changes to state retirees’ health care plan. The switch to Medicare Advantage has sparked an outcry from many state retirees, who feel Delaware has misled them and is now forcing them to accept health insurance that could deny or delay care. It has led the retirees to fight back: The filing of the lawsuit this week in Delaware Superior Court argues the state failed to follow […]

Delaware Live | by Charlie Meggison Delaware state government retirees gathered in Wilmington Tuesday with a message for Gov. John Carney and his political appointees: “Keep your hands off our Medicare.” The crowd of mostly senior citizens planned to protest outside the Carvel State Office Building, where the governor, attorney general and New Castle County lawmakers have offices. Rain forced them indoors to the city and county council chambers, one building over. It was there that they reiterated their disdain for the state’s plan to shift retirees and pensioners from […]

Delaware Public Media | by Rachel Sawicki More than 50 state retirees rallied in Wilmington Tuesday to oppose moving their healthcare coverage to a Medicare Advantage plan. Though lawmakers approved the switch as part of the 2023 state budget in June, many say they were not fully informed of the details. Former State Senator Karen Peterson says she was misled too, with newsletters sent to her touting a plan better than what she has now. “Medicare Advantage is quick to deny, deny, deny,” Peterson says. “That’s how they make their […]

WDEL | by Mark Fowser Medicare open enrollment is creating a lot of concern for thousands of retirees who worked for the State of Delaware, thanks to a decision made months ago that many are just now finding out about. It’s a decision with wide-ranging ramifications. Tuesday, state retirees and their spouses, family members and supporters gathered at the City County Building in Wilmington for a rally to show and organize opposition to the switch to Highmark Medicare Advantage from their negotiated benefits packages. Already, organizers opposed to the switch […]

Bay to Bay News | by Joseph Edelen More than 50 state retirees, legislators and other Delawareans against the state’s move to a Medicare Advantage Plan rallied against the change in the Louis L. Redding City-County Council Chambers Tuesday. The rally was led by Retirees Investing in Social Equity Delaware, also known as RISE Delaware. The organization, formed by retiring Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, and New Castle County Councilwoman Lisa Diller, has led the fight against the change for retirees since late August. On Sept. 25, RISE Delaware and former […]