Dear Neighbor,

I am writing to provide the most recent updates on the Legionnaires' community cluster and cyclosporiasis outbreak, and to share information about the increasing numbers of measles outbreaks in the U.S. and how to protect yourself. Also, for those of you who have Original Medicare, details are below about how you can express opposition to the proposed Medigap Plan premium rate increases for 2027.

I am sad to share that one more of our neighbors has died from Legionnaires'. This is a difficult disease that takes a physical toll on individuals and involves a prolonged recovery period. My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of our community members who have died, and with our neighbors who are currently dealing with the disease or recovering. It is hopeful that 12 days have passed since there were any new cases of Legionnaires' diagnosed. Please see below for the latest information.

Cases of cyclosporiasis continue to increase while the federal investigation of multiple outbreaks continues across the country. While iceberg lettuce is connected to one outbreak in nine states, the sources of other outbreaks have yet to be identified. Additional details are provided below.

As you may be aware, we have been experiencing an increase in measles outbreaks in the U.S. This is troubling and heartbreaking: troubling due to the severe health outcomes that can result from the measles and heartbreaking because we have been preventing measles outbreaks, severe illness, and death through immunization for decades. We are not currently experiencing an outbreak in New York, but this is a critical time to talk about the importance of getting vaccinated. Please see below for additional details.

As a friendly reminder, if you are concerned about the premium rate increase that your Medigap Plan provider is requesting for 2027, there is still time to submit a public comment. My office has been contacted by many constituents who want to express their concerns and I strongly encourage you to submit a public comment as well. More information is provided below.

Finally, Carnegie Hall has made free tickets available for their National Youth Ensemble show on Thursday, July 30th at 7pm. Carnegie Hall staff shared the following website and Promo Code to obtain free tickets:

Community Comp Offer: https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2026/07/30/NYO2-0700PM

Promo Code: CCOMPNYO2026

This is an exciting opportunity for New Yorkers to access Carnegie Hall at no charge! Please note that availability is limited due to space capacity.

As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please email or call my office at lkrueger@nysenate.gov or 212-490-9535. If you are not already subscribed to my email list, click here to join.

Liz Krueger

State Senator

Medigap Insurance Plan

Premium Rate Increases for 2027

As a friendly reminder, there is still time to submit a public comment in response to proposed premium rate increases for Medigap Insurance Plans in 2027.

If you currently have Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B) and a Supplemental plan (also known as a Medigap plan), you have likely received notification from your plan provider of the proposed premium rate increase that is being requested for 2027.

Medigap plan providers are requesting rate increases of more than 10% and upward of 20-30% and higher from the NYS Department of Financial Services (DFS). Please click here to view the rate increases that Medigap plan providers have submitted.

My office has been receiving calls and emails from constituents who are very concerned about their ability to afford these extraordinarily high premium rate increases, especially since this is not the first time that such significant rate increases have been sought.

DFS is responsible for assessing proposed premium rate increases submitted by plan providers, which includes reviewing financial, claims, and other data, as well as public comments submitted by policyholders. This provides an important opportunity for Medigap policyholders to comment on affordability issues and to advocate for lower premium rate increases. While I will be submitting comments as well, it is extremely important for DFS to hear directly from impacted New Yorkers.

If you are concerned about the proposed premium rate increase that your Medigap plan provider is requesting for 2027, I strongly encourage you to submit a public comment to DFS right away. Policy holders have 30 days to submit a comment.

There are two ways that you can submit a public comment to DFS:

1. The quickest way to submit your public comment is online. Please click here to complete the DFS web form. If you do not have access to the internet, please call my office and we will provide assistance with completing the web form.
2. You can also submit a public comment by regular mail. Mail your public comment to following address:

New York State Department of Financial Services

One Commerce Plaza

Albany, NY 12257

Legionnaires' Update

Although we are still dealing with the Legionnaires' community cluster in Carnegie Hill and Yorkville (zip codes 10028, 10128, and 10075), we have thankfully turned a corner.

It has been 12 days since a new case of Legionnaires' was diagnosed. This is very positive and suggests that the source of the cluster has been eliminated. According to the NYC Health Department, the risk of developing Legionnaires' is now much lower, but it is still important to monitor any symptoms if you live or work in, or have visited these neighborhoods, and to get medical attention right away if symptoms are suggestive of the disease.

As a friendly reminder, if you feel more comfortable wearing a mask when walking in the community, KN95 and N95 masks are high-quality, well-fitted masks. Surgical masks are much less effective.

The following are the most recent updates on the Legionnaires' community cluster:

• As of July 28th, the NYC Health Department reported that there is a total of 90 individuals who have been diagnosed with Legionnaires'. Of those 90 individuals, six are currently hospitalized, 65 were hospitalized and have been discharged, and 13 were not hospitalized. There have been six deaths.

• The Health Department has tested 183 cooling towers at 160 buildings in the affected zip codes for Legionella bacteria. At the time of this email, the results are as follows:
  
  - 77 cooling towers at 75 buildings had a preliminary positive PCR test result.
  - 59 cooling towers at 58 buildings had a positive culture test result, which verified the presence of live Legionella bacteria. All of these towers have been cleaned and disinfected. Only live Legionella bacteria can cause illness. However, a positive culture test result does not mean that the cooling tower is the source of this Legionnaires' community cluster. 
  - 106 cooling towers have a negative culture test result.
  - The remaining culture test results are pending and will be shared upon receipt.
  
  Please click here to view the July 27th list of culture test results and click here to view the July 14th list of positive PCR test results.

For additional information and updates, including a map of buildings with positive culture results, please visit the NYC Health Department's Legionnaires' disease web page.

Measles Outbreak Update

The United States has held measles elimination status since 2000, thanks to the effectiveness of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and high rates of vaccination. One dose of the vaccine is 93% effective against measles and two doses are 97% effective. We are at risk of losing this status, however, due to decreasing vaccination rates.

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses. Each person who is infected by measles has the potential to spread the virus to 18 other individuals. Not only does measles spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, the virus can remain in the air for up to two hours, making transmission possible even after the infected person has left the room.

Symptoms include fever, running nose, cough, red and watery eyes, and small white spots inside one's cheeks. Individuals with measles may experience severe complications, including pneumonia, blindness, encephalitis (brain swelling and potential brain damage), severe diarrhea and related dehydration, miscarriage or premature birth, ear infections, severe breathing difficulty, and even death.

In 2025, there were 2,289 reported cases of measles, the largest count in more than three decades, and this year there are already 2,318 reported cases, including 15 confirmed cases in New York State. Most recently, there have been more sizeable outbreaks in South Carolina, Utah, and Arizona.

The most effective way to prevent being infected with measles is by getting vaccinated. Children are recommended to get the first MMR dose at 12 months and the second dose at four years of age. The NYC Health Department states that if you were born before 1957, and if you had the measles, you are considered immune to the virus. If you were born after 1957, one MMR dose suffices, but some adults are recommended to get a second dose, including students at higher-education institutions, health care workers, and international travelers.

If you or your child are not currently immunized against the measles, or if you are unsure whether you require an additional dose of the MMR vaccine, I encourage you to speak with your health care provider and get any recommended doses of the MMR vaccine.

For additional information, please visit the NYC Health Department's Measles web page.

Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Update

Cases of cyclosporiasis continue to increase, with states now reporting over 14,000 suspected cases.

According to Dr. Kaitlyn Jetelina:

• The FDA is investigating six outbreaks
• There are confirmed cases in nine states that are linked to iceberg lettuce: Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
• The source has not been identified for every outbreak
• There are 561 cases of cyclosporiasis in North Carolina. Parsley and cilantro have been mentioned during patient interviews, but this has not led to any recalls to date
• There will likely be a reduction in cases soon due to the amount of time that lettuce remains good to eat. It is difficult to know more specifically what the status is due to challenges with maintaining consistent and up-to-date data

For more information, please see Dr. Jetelina's other informative blogs: Explosive Foodborne Outbreak, Top 10 Cyclospora Questions, and her July 21st edition of The Dose. You can also visit the NYC Health Department's Cyclospora Infection (Cyclosporiasis) web page.