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A resolution requesting the Metropolitan Employee Benefit Board reevaluate its decision to offer a Group Medicare Advantage plan to Metropolitan Government pensioners as their only option.
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WHEREAS, on February 17, 2021, the Study and Formulating Committee issued a report recommending that the Metropolitan Government offer pensioners a Group Medicare Advantage plan as their only option and to remove the Employer Group Waiver Plan language from the Metropolitan Code; and
WHEREAS, it was determined by the Study and Formulating Committee at that time that offering eligible pensioners a Group Medicare Advantage plan as their only option would result in the realization of Other Post-Employment Benefits (“OPEB”) liability reduction of $1.1 billion and an annual cash savings to the Metropolitan Government of $14-21 million in the initial year; and
WHEREAS, at its May 4, 2021 meeting, the Metropolitan Employee Benefit Board approved the recommendation of the Study and Formulating Committee to make Medicare Advantage plan the only choice for health insurance offered by the Metropolitan Government to pensioners with Medicare and whose covered dependents also have Medicare, effective January 1, 2023; and
WHEREAS, at that meeting, the Metropolitan Employee Benefit Board also requested that within three years of implementation, the Benefit Board be provided an evaluation of how the Medicare Advantage plan is operating, as well as an update on the reduction of the OPEB liability; and
WHEREAS, the decision to move all Metropolitan Government pensioners who are Medicare eligible to a Group Medicare Advantage plan as their only option has resulted in an almost immediate threat to choice of healthcare for Metro’s pensioners; and
WHEREAS, recent events have highlighted the concern that Metro’s pensioners may be at a disadvantage when given only one option for health insurance; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Employee Benefit Board should immediately consider providing at least one additional health insurance option for Metro’s pensioners to ensure that the Metropolitan Government is providing the best possible health insurance for its pensioners.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Metropolitan Employee Benefit Board reevaluate its decision to offer a Group Medicare Advantage plan to Metropolitan Government pensioners as their only option.
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.