Public
Employee Press Opposes
HIP/GHI plan to go for-profit The merger of two major
health plans, GHI and HIP, and the subsequent request to New York State to convert
the merged plan from nonprofit to for-profit status may have a major negative
impact on our members.
Members of unions, who are the largest customers
of HIP and among the largest of GHI in the state, may be in for higher premiums
should this status conversion take place, and especially if the merged insurer
is then flipped (sold) to someone else.
On April 24 the
New York Sun reported on some of the problems that could occur should conversion
take place, including a provision in the recent employment agreement of HIP CEO
Anthony Watson that could be worth up to $20 million if the company is converted
to for-profit status.
After seeming to support this conversion, the
UFT has recently decided to take a closer look at it. I suggest that our
union do so also, and actively oppose the for-profit conversion.
Michael
Padwee SSEU Local 371, Retired Editors
note: DC 37 is monitoring this situation closely to safeguard the interests
of members and retirees.
The union believes that any funds generated by
the for-profit conversion process should be used to protect and improve benefits
for public employees, who have supported HIP and GHI for so long. |