Benefits Change for Rockland County Retirees Delayed

News that California will probe insurance giant Aetna over claim denials has solidified Rockland lawmakers' desire to closely scrutinize a plan to change the health benefits carrier for county retirees.

"We are shocked to learn that California's insurance commissioner is investigating Aetna after a former medical director allegedly admitted never having looked at patients' records when deciding whether to approve or deny care. This development is yet another reason why Ed Day's plan to move our 2,600 retirees from the Empire Plan to Aetna requires our focused attention and scrutiny. Our retirees deserve nothing less."

The county's retirees had received letters informing them that effective April 1, Aetna would be the new, sole medical and pharmacy carrier and provider for all eligible County employees and their covered dependents.

Now that changeover has been put off until June, said County Executive Ed Day's spokesman John Lyon, and Day looks forward to the Legislature's advice on what plan is best for the county retirees and for the county taxpayer.

"Frankly, the legislature caught us by surprise as for the first time in over 15 years they have shown interest in insurance policies. My administration has agreed to delay the changeover by 60 days so as to afford the legislature an opportunity to formulate their ideas and submit them for consideration. We look forward to seeing precisely what they bring to the table that matches up to what the experts have demonstrated ... the Aetna Health Plan both provides better coverage for our retirees and does so at a lesser cost,” said Day.

The current provider is United Healthcare. The Administration seeks to have retirees age 65 and older enroll in the Aetna Medicare Advantage plan

“The winners here are the retirees who came to the Legislature’s meetings, who wrote us and called us and told us, firsthand, of their struggle to understand what the proposed new plan means to them,” Legislature Chairman Toney L. Earl said. “The fact that there is no actual final policy to review, and to compare to the current plan, means the retirees can’t possibly determine the potential impacts to them if the change is put in place.”

PHOTO: Dozens of retirees attended a recent Rockland County Legislature's Budget & Finance Committee meeting, concerned about proposed changes to their health insurance. These retirees were among those who stayed until 11:30 p.m., when the meeting ended./ Rockland County Legislature

SEE ALSO:

• Aetna Won't Move Its Headquarters To NYC After All
  
• California Probes Aetna Over Report Saying Claim Denial Practice

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