Council considers surcharge, not spousal exclusion, on health insurance
By Mike Owen, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Councilors will hold a first reading/public hearing Tuesday morning on an ordinance that would offer those spouses access to the city's health insurance plan, but at a charge of about
The monthly HMO plan premium for an employee and spouse (who has no access to health insurance) is
Councilor
"It's a no-brainer," Davis said. "It's the right thing to do to offer employees an option. It's not putting a burden on the plan."
Davis said the city used past experience to calculate how much the surcharge would have to be to make it revenue neutral. If the spouse can find insurance for less than the
"We need to continue to evaluate our benefits plan," Davis said. "If were not able to give them raises because the revenue coming into the city isn't sufficient, the benefits package is all we have left to give them."
Muscogee County Sheriff's Maj.
Robertson recently posted a notice on the FOP's Facebook page, urging city employees to contact members of Council and voice their opinions on the proposed ordinance and to attend the public hearing Tuesday as well.
"The FOP has been very vocal concerning the stagnant wages, low morale and limited focus on healthcare costs that has decreased CCG employees' net pay over the past few years," Robertson wrote. "Columbus Councilors approve all budget decisions and health care costs, so if you wish to be heard, I encourage you to reach out to those elected to serve the taxpayers of Columbus."
The proposed ordinance would also apply to pre-65 retired city employees, whose health insurance is subsidized to a lesser extent than employees. Pre-65 retired employees' HMO premiums for employee and spouse would rise from
If the ordinance fails to pass, employees and prep-65 retired employees whose spouses have access to insurance with their employer will be ineligible for city insurance beginning
Council meets Tuesday at
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