Health insurance change for CSEA retirees stopped -- for now

Nassau Civil Service Employees Association retirees fighting to stop an expensive change in their health insurance coverage have won a temporary victory.

Supreme Court Justice Conrad Singer today signed an order preventing Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman from switching their health insurance coverage from the state's Empire Plan to the state's Excelsior Plan and directed the county to continue the retiree's membership in the Empire Plan until a full court decision can be made.

Singer ordered the county to present its arguments against an injunction to Supreme Court Justice Danielle Peterson on Jan. 22. (Intersting side note: Danielle Peterson is the daughter of former Republican Hempstead Presiding Supervisor Greg Peterson.)

Blakeman had negotiated a change for all CSEA members and retirees to the Excelsior Plan in a new  contract approved by the CSEA in August.

The Excelsior plan is less costly to the county but more expensive for union members. The new contract provided upfront stipends to the active members but nothing to offset the extra costs for retirees, who were guaranteed health insurance after they left county employ.

Here is parts of the order:
                                                                         







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