Reviewing end-of-year Retired Teachers Chapter events brings to mind my sophomore geometry class. A theorem jumps out at me: The whole is equal to the sum of its parts. Let's add up those parts as they apply to us.
We opened 2021 buoyed by Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election and rattled by the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6. Those events infused us with a sense of optimism mingled with concern.
Several factors shaped the rest of the year: the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the growing availability of vaccines and the vaccine mandates in many workplaces; the New York City Medicare Advantage Plus Plan; the enhancement of the UFT's Supplemental Health Insurance Program (SHIP); and local elections. They were all woven together rather than happening neatly in chronological order.
The early part of the year was a time of adaptation. The continuing need to social distance and refrain from large gatherings meant we had to find new ways to connect with retired members. We learned to excel at virtual meetings, courses and even trips. We regretted the loss of personal interaction, including traveling to see members in the parts of the country where they reside. But good came from necessity. Whereas in-person attendance ranged from 50 to 500 at RTC meetings before the pandemic, virtual meetings drew thousands of members. Courses formerly limited to a geographic region became accessible to retirees in the far reaches of the nation.
Proving elections matter, the U.S. Congress has passed several pieces of important legislation this year. The American Rescue Plan Act, passed into law in the spring, brought long-sought relief to American families and hard-hit small businesses in the face of the economic challenges posed by the pandemic. A bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill was signed into law in November. The Build Back Better Act includes the greatest progressive government programs in decades, including funds for providing universal preschool and child care and expanding Medicare coverage. The U.S. House of Representatives passed this labor-supported bill on Nov. 19. Now, on to the Senate.
We used ingenuity and the latest technology to transform our popular SHIP program. Claims that took months are now processed in days. Look for a new enhanced and updated benefits booklet soon after the new year.
The most controversial issue retirees faced this year is the New York City Medicare Advantage Plus Plan. After a slow start, we have been regularly sharing information on the health plan for Medicare-eligible municipal retirees through webinars, special meetings, email messages and regular mailings. Our dedicated webpage, with links to FAQs, enrollment guides, rate charts and more, is also a valuable resource. There has been an evolving sense of understanding and evaluation in the midst of continued skepticism. Once the plan takes effect, we expect concerns will begin to ease about how it will operate.
Shifting from a mathematical lens to my poetic and philosophical Celtic frame of mind, I think about Aristotle's different perspective on our opening theorem: The whole is actually greater than the sum of its parts. A spirit can elevate us beyond the component parts.
This year, the NYC Medicare Advantage Plus Plan conspired to pull us apart. But the unity of spirit of UFT retirees is stronger than any such stresses. We have a shared history and shared values that bind us together. If, indeed, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, we'll be OK. We'll be even better.
Happy 2022!
Next RTC General Membership Meeting Tuesday, March 8, 3:30 p.m.