Mayor Adams Abandons Medicare Advantage Plan for Retired City Workers

On Friday, Mayor Eric Adams announced he is dropping his long-running efforts to transition retired city workers to a more expensive health plan. This decision comes after a significant legal victory earlier in the week.

Running as an independent in the upcoming November general election, Adams had previously supported the Medicare Advantage plan. This program differs from the traditional Medicare offered to retirees, relying on Medicare subsidies. However, on Friday, he shifted his position. He cited feedback from public engagements with retirees who expressed concerns about the proposed changes.

“We have communicated to union leadership that we are pursuing other measures to improve healthcare for urban workers that provide even better results,” Adams stated. Yet, the mayor’s office has not provided details on what these alternative options might be.

This announcement followed closely on the heels of a ruling from New York’s Court of Appeals, which favored the Adams administration by confirming the city’s ability to transfer retirees to the Medicare Advantage plan after years of contention from various advocacy groups.

In response, rival Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Swa criticized Adams for what he termed a politically motivated reversal. “Now, just as the prospect of his reelection dimmed after the appeals court ruled in his favor, Eric Adams suddenly found the backbone that would stop his attack on our retirees,” Swa remarked. He further warned that Adams could revert back to supporting the Health Care Plan if he secures reelection.

Requests for comments from the Adams campaign have not been answered. The Medicare Advantage plan was initially introduced in 2021 by former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who claimed it would generate over $600 million in annual savings for the city.