FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A new lawsuit has pit Fresno Unified retirees against the district they dedicated their lives to, after they say a January audit was issued with little effort made to notify them.<\/p>\n
This latest litigation comes after years of frustration over the district’s switch from traditional Medicare to Aetna Medicare Advantage.<\/p>\n
It includes claims of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and violation of the elder abuse and dependent adult civil protection act, among others.<\/p>\n
Friday, leaders from the Fresno Unified Retirees Lifetime Health Benefits Association presented the complaint, speaking out on behalf of more than 6,200 former employees.<\/p>\n
“Hundreds of us are in nursing homes and assisted living facilities where we do not receive mail, mail that would have been delivered to our previous homes, said assistant director Emily Brandt.<\/p>\n
Brandt claims the audit exploits the group’s unfamiliarity with technology.<\/p>\n
The letter they received requested that they gather documents of marital status and adult dependents, many of which must be obtained online or by physically visiting the Hall of Records.<\/p>\n
“Many of us are in the midst of severe cognitive decline and cannot speak or even understand, let alone order a marriage certificate online,” Brandt said.<\/p>\n
It also required a response by April 8; if the request isn’t completed by then, coverage will be terminated on April 30.<\/p>\n
And if they have questions, they were told to contact BMI Healthcare, with bold letters ordering them not to directly contact the district benefits office.<\/p>\n
“We would happily sit down with them and work out a solution to this problem, but there’s been no expression of any willingness to meet us halfway,” said attorney Kevin Little.<\/p>\n
Little claims the district’s actions violate the contract clause protecting the lifetime benefits retirees were promised when they were hired, an agreement backed by a Fresno County judge in a prior lawsuit between the district and its long-time employees 15 years ago.<\/p>\n
Now thousands are left without essential, life-extending services.<\/p>\n
“Many of our beneficiaries literally are fighting for their lives and desperately need the lifetime medical benefits that they were promised,” Little said.<\/p>\n
Action News did reach out to Fresno Unified for a response, but the district says it does not comment on ongoing litigation.<\/p>\n
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