Dear Governor John Carney and Legislators: We, the undersigned former legislators, are writing to express our deepest concerns about the State’s efforts to privatize Medicare for 30,000 retirees and dependents. Many of us will also be affected by this monumental change to the benefits that the State has provided its retirees for decades. We are particularly concerned, given the findings of your own consultants, that privatizing retirees’ benefits by switching to Medicare Advantage will have much less impact on the unfunded liability in the State’s healthcare fund than other changes. […]
27 Former State Legislators Sign Open Letter to Governor about Retiree Healthcare Benefits
Press Release: For immediate release February 23, 2023 Contact: Karen Peterson, 302-999-7522 Nancy Wagner, 302-734-1823 Former legislators write Open Letter to the governor and legislators regarding retirees’ healthcare coverage Twenty-seven former State senators and representatives sent an open letter to Governor John Carney and legislators today opposing the State’s plans to privatize retirees’ Medicare coverage by switching to a Medicare Advantage plan. The letter reminds State officials that under Delaware law, they are required to select the “best plan” that satisfies the interests of the State and its pensioners. The […]
State retirees raise alarm about budget provision
Press Release: For immediate release February 20, 2023 Contact: Karen Peterson 302-999-7522 karenpeterson183@msn.com State retirees raise alarm about budget provision RISE Delaware and retired State Senator Karen Peterson are “sounding the alarm” about a provision in the Governor’s fiscal year 2024 budget bill that the Carney Administration will likely use as a springboard to replace retirees’ Medicare Supplement plan with privatized Medicare Advantage. Peterson describes the provision as another “sneak attack,” similar to what the Carney administration did last year when it similarly buried Medicare Advantage language deep within the […]
RISE Delaware Urges Current State Employees to Participate in New Benefits Survey
Media Alert: For immediate release February 2, 2023 Contact: Elisa Diller: 302-369-6756 John Kowalko: 302-547-9351 Karen Peterson: 302-999-7522 RISE Delaware Urges Current State Employees to Participate in New Benefits Survey State employees need to speak up to keep your healthcare benefits! RISE Delaware is encouraging current state agency and school district employees to pay close attention to a survey being sent out about employee benefits. Elisa Diller, RISE co-founder said, “This survey is being made available to current employees from February 1-17, 2023. We are encouraging current employees to weigh […]
RISE Delaware Members to Attend Wednesday Senate Committee Hearing to Voice Opposition to Senate Bill 29
Press Advisory: For immediate release January 17, 2023 Contact: John Kowalko (302) 547-9351 kowalkoforthe25th@gmail.com RISE Delaware Members to Attend Wednesday Senate Committee Hearing to Voice Opposition to Senate Bill 29 RISE Delaware members are being urged to attend the Senate Executive Committee meeting scheduled for 3:00 PM on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at Legislative Hall in Dover, to voice their opposition to Senate Bill 29 relating to the State Employee Benefits Act. Senate Bill 29, sponsored by Senator Townsend, purports to be a response to the concerns of State pensioners […]
RISE Rally on Wednesday, October 26 at Legislative Hall
The Delaware General Assembly will be holding a Special Session on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, to address concerns with the Medicare Advantage privatization. Please come and join RISE Delaware to show support for a solution to the problem the State of Delaware has created. Representative John Kowalko will be introducing a bill on the floor of the House of Representatives to allow for state retirees to choose to remain on their current Medicfill Supplemental Plan or moving to the new Medicare Advantage plan offered by Highmark. The bill is […]
Lawmaker Files Bill to Restore Delaware State Retirees’ Medicare Supplement Option
Delaware General Assembly Rep. John Kowalko For immediate release October 21, 2022 Contact: John Kowalko 25th District Representative 302-547-9351 Lawmaker Files Bill to Restore Delaware State Retirees’ Medicare Supplement Option Bill would guarantee access to Special Medicfill Supplement Plan for retirees opposed to privatized Medicare Advantage plan State Representative John Kowalko announced that he is filing legislation to restore the Delaware Special Medicfill Supplement Plan as an option for state employees and retirees who receive State-funded healthcare through Medicare. The bill will be filed in time for the special session […]
RISE Delaware Wins Stay of Medicare Advantage Plan
For immedate release: October 19, 2022 RISE Delaware Wins Stay of Medicare Advantage Plan The Delaware Superior Court, the Hon. Calvin Scott, today issued an interim Order in favor of Plaintiffs in the lawsuit against State of Delaware officials brought by RISE Delaware, an advocacy group for retirees of the State of Delaware, and two individuals. The lawsuit asks to stop Delaware’s implementation of its improperly adopted HighMark Medicare Advantage Plan to replace the long-standing traditional Medicare benefit earned by state retirees. Based on the record that State officials failed […]
Second Rally Opposing Privatization of Delaware State Retirees’ Health Care Set for Wednesday, October 12 at Legislative Hall
Press Advisory: For immediate release October 6, 2022 Contact: John Kowalko 25th District Representative (302) 547-9351 Second Rally Opposing Privatization of Delaware State Retirees’ Health Care Set for Wednesday, October 12 at Legislative Hall RISE Delaware has scheduled a second public rally to take place on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, starting at noon. The rally will be held on the East steps of Legislative Hall in Dover. In case of rain, the rally will be held in the House Chambers. The purpose of the rally is to allow state retirees […]
RISE Delaware Rally at Legislative Hall in Dover on October 12 to Oppose Privatization of Delaware State Retirees’ Medicare
RISE Delaware Rally at Legislative Hall in Dover on October 12 to Oppose Privatization of Delaware State Retirees’ Medicare RISE Delaware will hold a rally on the steps of Legislative Hall in Dover on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, from noon to 1 p.m. We will be inviting all supportive legislators to join us on the steps of Legislative Hall. Please join us wearing blue shirts and bring your signs! We will be rallying to demand that the State of Delaware stop the proposed plan to privatize state retirees’ health benefits […]