Chicago City Workers Retirement Health Care Info

Subject: RE: City Health Care Insurance.........................

 

I spoke with Sen. Cunningham the sponsor of the bill and what this bill does is to extend the current Korshak payments to Dec 31, 2016.  The bill was introduced by FOP and sanctioned by Fire.  The other pension funds are included.

 

Don Januszyk

 

Subject: City Health Care Insurance.........................

 

 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

CHICAGO PREPARES TO FORCE POLICE, FIREFIGHTER, OTHER RETIREES ONTO OBAMACARE

SPRINGFIELD - Starting in January 2014, the City of Chicago plans on phasing out the 55 percent subsidy they pay for retiree health insurance for the city's 30,000 retired employees.

After that, the city's retirees will then be forced to pick a healthcare plan from the State’s Obamacare Exchange.

Legislation setting the city's planned relief into action is SB 1584, which passed Tuesday in the Illinois House. SB 1584, sponsored by Speaker Madigan's lieutenant State Rep Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago), would put all Chicago Police, Fire, Municipal and Laborer retirees on the path to Obamacare public health coverage as of December 31, 2016, a Republican House staff analysis says.

Four Democrats and all Republican House members voted against SB 1584.

This city's pay-in provision of 55 percent is currently set to expire June 30, 2013, so while this is an extending retiree health care benefits, it allows the City of Chicago to end the practice at any time it decides to end offering retiree healthcare.

Since the 1989 "Korshak decree" court order, Chicago has been required to provide retiree health insurance. The court order expires July 1, 2013. AFSCME, Fraternal Order of Police and the Chicago Firefighters Local 2 oppose the city's plan to put retirees onto the federal health care plan.

The Fraternal Order of Police is preparing for a court battle over the Korshak order as its end nears. At its May 2013 meeting, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 website says their Board of Directors' voted unanimously to hire attorney Clint Krislov to prepare an amicus brief in the Illinois Supreme Court and litigate a suit addressing the upcoming end of the Korshak Settlement Agreement, which expires on June 30, 2013.

"This is an issue of critical importance to our retirees and active members alike, as it will help determine the future of retiree healthcare for City of Chicago employees," the FOP says.

The House roll call on SB 1548 is as follows, and the amended bill will now return to the Senate for consensus.