Subject:

Tell our lawmakers to remove the IRMAA reimbursement cut from the final budget to protect our retirees' healthcare.

Dear Legislator: 

As a constituent who believes that public servants deserve a stable, dignified retirement, I urge you to restore the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) reimbursement for retired public sector workers in the final enacted budget. 

New York's public servants dedicated their careers to our students and communities. They deserve to keep the healthcare benefits they were promised. However, this year's executive budget does not include reimbursement for certain Medicare Part B costs for retired public sector workers. 

All NYSHIP retirees are required to enroll in Medicare Part B—this is not optional. Without IRMAA reimbursements, retirees on fixed incomes would face between $700 and $4,100 in new annual costs. The state should not attempt to balance its budget on the backs of our retired public servants who have already given so much to their communities. 

The Legislature has removed similar language from previous budget proposals when constituents spoke up. I am asking you to do so again this year. Our retirees earned their benefits through years of dedicated service, and they should not have to worry about unexpected healthcare costs in retirement. 

Accordingly, I urge you to work with your conference and your leadership to remove the IRMAA reimbursement cut from the final budget and protect our retirees' healthcare benefits. 

Thank you for considering this important issue. I respectfully ask that you bring up this issue with your conference and I would greatly appreciate a response to this letter. 

Sincerely,

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