FAQs on negotiations

What prompted us to enter into negotiations for a new health care plan?

Members have reported concerns about GHI CBP — the city's most utilized health care plan. It has become harder to find in-network doctors (especially out of state) and difficult to find mental health providers. We have fought constantly to prevent copay increases as health care costs have nearly doubled since 2015 (from $16,000 to $31,000 for a family plan), putting our premium-free coverage at risk. The intent of the negotiated acquisition was to preserve premium-free health care while addressing these concerns with the current plan.

So what did we do about it?

Every year, our premium-free health care is negotiated through the Municipal Labor Committee (MLC), but for the past 40 years those negotiations have taken place with the same providers (EmblemHealth and Anthem). Three years ago, the city and the MLC jointly decided to explore alternative options for the GHI CBP plan. This was done through a process called a negotiated acquisition, which tells all interested companies: "We are looking for something better than what we have, and we want these improvements — so give us your best offer."

What plan were these negotiations for?

These negotiations were for the GHI CBP PPO health plan that covers all New York City in-service workers and pre-Medicare retirees. This is the only plan that will be replaced by the NYCE PPO and will not affect any other city health plan (e.g., the current HIP plan or the Medicare-eligible retiree health plans) and does not include the benefits that UFT members get from the UFT Welfare Fund, which are dental, vision, prescription drugs (for in-service members) and hearing aid benefits.

What health care plan improvements did the MLC ask for in the negotiated acquisition process?

The MLC asked for the following improvements in the negotiated acquisition process:

1. More in-network doctors, both locally and nationwide (with continued access to our current providers)
2. A premium-free health care guarantee
3. Better access to behavioral/mental health care
4. Protection from rising copays
5. A five-year contract that ensures continuity and stability in care and costs.

Are my health benefits at risk?

Absolutely not. Our goal was to emerge from these negotiations with an even stronger health benefits package while locking in our guarantee of premium-free health care for at least the next five years. The NYC Employees PPO Plan enables us to achieve that goal.