Health Insurance:
The Negotiated Acquisition to replace GHI is down to two finalists with a decision soon. Benefits will improve, including mental health benefits.
DC 37 will conduct healthcare fairs to educate members on changes.
HIP is expanding its network nationwide.
PICA
ESI, the PICA program's PBM, is in a contract dispute with the City and MLC. ESI wants to eliminate the current contract's price guarantees, which control the City's costs. The City and MLC do not want this to happen.
The MLC and City are discussing who to incorporate into the negotiated acquisition.
Healthcare savings - the City is saying that since the Unions did not generate savings agreed upon in prior healthcare agreements, they are demanding the following:
Tiering hospitals based on how much they charge participants - Tier 1 hospitals will pay $0 copay, Tier 2 will pay $300 copay, and Tier 3, which include Columbia Presbyterian, NYU, and Westchester Medical will pay $1000 copay
PICA participants pay copays The MLC rejected those proposals. The City moved to have OCB and the arbitrator impose them. The MLC submitted briefs that OCB and the arbitrator do not have authority to implement these.
Medicare Advantage - the NY State Appellate Court heard the case last week
Title: DC 37 Delegates Meeting Minutes
Date: May 27, 2025
Page: 2 & 3
IMPORTANT UPDATE REGARDING YOUR HEALTH CARE BENEFITS
DC 37 Family,
For the first time in over 40 years, the City has selected a proposal for a new health plan for active city employees, pre-Medicare retirees, and their dependents. The joint proposal from EmblemHealth and United Healthcare will unlock access to more primary care doctors, specialists, nurse practitioners, and mental health providers in New York City—all while remaining premium-free.
The selection process was conducted in partnership with the Municipal Labor Committee (MLC), of which DC 37 and several of our Local unions are members. The City and the MLC will now begin the next phase of negotiating a contract agreement with Emblem and United.
Once the contract is finalized and approved, all essential information will be communicated regarding the transition to the new plan. Additionally, city workers will continue to have the choice of enrolling in other plans offered by the city, including the HIP-HMO and MetroPlus plans, which also have no employee premiums.
This is great news for our members who work for the City of New York. We’ve navigated a challenging road to get to this point, but the result is the tentative selection of a new health plan that will allow us to increase the quality and access of benefits for our members while reining in predatory costs and remaining premium-free.
In solidarity,
Henry A. Garrido
Executive Director
District Council 37Mayor Adams, OLR Commissioner Campion Continue Negotiations for new City Employee Health Plan That Would Provide Expanded Network of Doctors, Maintain Premium-Free Coverage June 2, 2025
Mayor Adams, OLR Commissioner Campion Continue Negotiations for new City Employee Health Plan That W | City of New York
City moves forward with new municipal employee health plan But critics say joint is latest effort to diminish benefits BY RICHARD KHAVKINE Posted 6/6/25
DC37 - health care changes coming : r/nycpublicservants
Mayor Adams and OLR Launch Negotiations for Enhanced, Premium-Free Health Plan for NYC Employees AI Assisted Icon By Nolan Keegan
Mayor Adams and OLR Launch Negotiations for Enhanced, Premium-Free
