As the New York City mayoral race intensifies, the fate of health care for retired city workers remains a focal point for candidates and voters alike.
Current Democratic primary candidates are positioning themselves around the contentious debate over Medicare Advantage, a plan aimed at transitioning some 250,000 retirees into a cost-cutting program that has garnered significant criticism.
Queens Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani has emerged as a notable candidate, recently pledging to reject Medicare Advantage on his campaign website.
This new stance places Mamdani in opposition to District Council 37 (DC 37), a major municipal workers union that has actively supported the Medicare Advantage deal.
DC 37’s executive director, Henry Garrido, believes the plan is essential for funding worker raise negotiations and avoiding increased out-of-pocket costs for current employees.
While all three DC 37-endorsed candidates—Mamdani, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, and State Senator Zellnor Myrie—initially refrained from committing to a no Medicare Advantage pledge advocated by retired city workers, Mamdani’s recent change suggests a shift.
Myrie’s campaign has chosen not to clarify his position on the issue, and a spokesperson for Adams has emphasized that decisions regarding health care for city employees and retirees fall under the purview of the mayor’s office and municipal labor unions.
Adams has reiterated her commitment to ensuring quality health care options for retirees and workers, pledging to prioritize such decisions if elected mayor.
Interestingly, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is currently leading in polls, did sign the pledge against Medicare Advantage; however, his campaign has not provided clarity on how he would achieve savings similar to those touted by DC 37.
A spokesperson for Cuomo has described the plan as unfeasible, citing a prior court ruling that deemed the Medicare Advantage proposal a violation of retiree rights.
The ongoing legal battle over the Medicare Advantage plan—a deal first established under former mayor Bill de Blasio—has created a contentious backdrop for the primary race.
Retirees have successfully blocked the transition through a lawsuit that ultimately reached the state’s highest court.
Long before the DC 37 endorsement process, Mamdani publicly criticized the switch to Medicare Advantage in a labor-focused interview, calling it irresponsible and a reckless undermining of promised Medicare benefits.
Despite this consistency, he has faced backlash from the NYC Organization of Public Sector Retirees, led by president Marianne Pizzitola, who argues that Mamdani’s rejection of Medicare Advantage is insufficient and insists on a signed commitment to preserve traditional Medicare for retirees.
Pizzitola has voiced her frustration with Mamdani, Adams, and Myrie, criticizing their absence at a recent mayoral debate hosted by her organization, further straining relations.
Her demands extend beyond the rejection of Medicare Advantage to include expedited Medicare reimbursements and communication with her group about retirees’ health care.
“The absence of a signed pledge raises questions about their real commitment to our cause,” Pizzitola stated, emphasizing the irony of supporting candidates endorsed by DC 37 while failing to fully align with retiree interests.
Current Mayor Eric Adams has come under scrutiny as well, having previously indicated opposition to the Medicare Advantage transition during his campaign before supporting it once in office.
Pizzitola has expressed distrust, accusing Adams of reneging on his promise, stating, “He gave us his word as a candidate and does something else as mayor.”
In response to growing concerns, DC 37 executives are preparing to challenge candidates who advocate against the Medicare Advantage deal, as evidenced by their decision to rescind support for Brooklyn City Councilmember Alexa Avilés due to her backing for legislation aimed at protecting traditional Medicare rights for retirees.
DC 37 contends that such legislation could interfere with the collective bargaining rights of public sector unions and undermines the agreements in place.
A representative for DC 37 declined to comment on Mamdani’s latest position, although Garrido recently criticized Cuomo for failing to outline how he would manage the consequences of eliminating Medicare Advantage.
Garrido remarked, “Candidates claim they oppose Medicare Advantage but neglect to address how they will finance alternatives.”
Cuomo has since suggested that savings might be obtainable through reforming the underlying causes of health care inflation in the city.
Mamdani has proposed a more accessible revenue strategy, advocating for increased taxes on corporations and high earners to generate approximately $10 billion annually.
His campaign assures voters that he would collaborate with the Council and Albany to ensure that retirees maintain health care coverage that they’ve relied on for years.
The NYC Retirees group made early endorsements for the mayoral race, supporting independent candidate Jim Walden, who is representing them in litigation against the Medicare Advantage plan.
While Pizzitola’s organization refrains from issuing ranked endorsements for Democratic candidates, they have made it clear that they will endorse any candidate who signs their anti-Medicare Advantage pledge.
In this charged political environment, the health care debate for retired city workers looms large as a critical issue in shaping the future of New York City’s leadership.
image source from：https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/06/12/mayoral-democratic-primary-medicare-advantage-dc37/
