If the stakes weren't so darned high, this would be funny (think pathos):
"Retired city of Cincinnati workers argued in court Tuesday that City Hall is obligated to provide them for the rest of their lives with an extremely generous health coverage plan ... City attorneys, however, countered by contending that doing so could devastate other city services and that Cincinnati never promised that retirees' medical coverage would never change."
Facing a potential $60 million annual shortfall to pay for these bennies, the City is looking to cut its losses. On the other hand, the retirees, some making well in excess of $100,000 a year in retirement benefits, believe that their generous medical coverage (much better than most private sector employees could hope for) are sacrosanct:
"...the central issue ... is whether City Hall may change ... the medical plan former city workers initially received upon retiring ... Two former city employees testified Tuesday that retirement handbooks and briefings by city pension officials led them to believe that the city could not "reduce, change, revoke or eliminate" their health coverage after they retired."
Attorneys for the Queen City countered that these retirees apparently aren't averse to any changes, "only ones that cost them more money. Dental and vision coverage, for example, has been added to the coverage without complaint."
Something else to ponder: starting next month, "more than 10,000 baby boomers per day will turn 65." Talk about fighting City Hall.
[Hat Tip: FoIB Holly R]
"Retired city of Cincinnati workers argued in court Tuesday that City Hall is obligated to provide them for the rest of their lives with an extremely generous health coverage plan ... City attorneys, however, countered by contending that doing so could devastate other city services and that Cincinnati never promised that retirees' medical coverage would never change."
Facing a potential $60 million annual shortfall to pay for these bennies, the City is looking to cut its losses. On the other hand, the retirees, some making well in excess of $100,000 a year in retirement benefits, believe that their generous medical coverage (much better than most private sector employees could hope for) are sacrosanct:
"...the central issue ... is whether City Hall may change ... the medical plan former city workers initially received upon retiring ... Two former city employees testified Tuesday that retirement handbooks and briefings by city pension officials led them to believe that the city could not "reduce, change, revoke or eliminate" their health coverage after they retired."
Attorneys for the Queen City countered that these retirees apparently aren't averse to any changes, "only ones that cost them more money. Dental and vision coverage, for example, has been added to the coverage without complaint."
Something else to ponder: starting next month, "more than 10,000 baby boomers per day will turn 65." Talk about fighting City Hall.
[Hat Tip: FoIB Holly R]
Posts
