AOC Takes A Bold Swipe At Mayor Adams And Union Leaders Over This New Controversial Plan For Seniors

This issue concerns seniors, who are a crucial voting constituency. Ocasio-Cortez's words could be seen as a test of the waters for a Senate run against Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand, or even a challenge to Adams' 2025 re-election bid, according to political consultants.

While the congresswoman has not ruled out a Senate run next year, she backed lefty challenger Maya Wiley's failed bid against Adams in the city hall race in 2021.

During a virtual town hall, Ocasio-Cortez said, "It's a bad decision. It is not good. This is something I oppose. We are in this fight with you and we oppose this shift." Private health insurer Aetna will manage the Medicare Advantage program, a change that former Mayor Bill de Blasio initially proposed to tap into an estimated $600 million in federal subsidies available to Medicare Advantage plans.

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The program changes were advanced by Adams and approved by the Municipal Labor Committee, the coalition of union leaders representing workers and retirees. While Aetna's Medicare Advantage plan will have a lower annual deductible, Ocasio-Cortez suggested that the program is a bait-and-switch, warning retirees will face higher bills if they're hospitalized for a severe illness. She also expressed concern that the program would be run by a for-profit private insurer, describing Medicare Advantage as a "cash cow" for them.

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April 17, 2023

Ocasio-Cortez did not criticize the mayor or any labor leader by name. She urged retirees to light a fire under union officials and Adams, who is up for re-election in 2025. She said, "There needs to be pressure — and by the way, that needs to be electorally and also having those conversations with your union.

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Those are the folks who are at the negotiating table and there has to be accountability." The congresswoman, who represents portions of The Bronx and Queens, said Medicare Advantage has been rife with inflated bills and fraud, noting she was one of 70 House members who co-signed a letter to President Biden urging tighter controls.

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Political consultants opined that Ocasio-Cortez's words might be an audition for another office as Queens is ground zero for the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) people. One consultant said, "She's got nothing to lose. She would be a worthy challenger". The consultant also said that the Adams administration has every reason to be concerned about the progressives, significantly if crime doesn't calm down or the city still appears out of control.

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Mayor Adams defended the switch to Aetna-run Medicare Advantage as a win for the city and its retirees, stating that "this plan is in the best interests of retirees and taxpayers, and we look forward to working with retirees, elected officials, and other stakeholders as the plan takes effect."

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However, Harry Nespoli, chairman of the Municipal Labor Committee and President of the Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association, who approved the language of the Medicare switch, shrugged off Ocasio-Cortez's criticisms. "Tell her to give me a call at the union hall," Nespoli said on Sunday. "It was time to do this. Governments have been moving into Medicare Advantage across the country."