Ross commissioner: Medical plan for officials costs too much [The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]

Feb. 16--A Ross commissioner says the township cannot continue footing the bill for health insurance provided to elected officials and some of their family members -- including his -- and will try to end the practice.

The insurance costs Ross about $110,000 per year. That's less than in 2011, when the bill totaled about $134,000, but Commissioner Christopher Rand Eyster says it's still too costly.

"I believe as a board we should make a shared sacrifice," said Eyster, who carries the insurance for himself and his son and pays 10 percent of premiums. "I'm going to suffer and I'm going to sacrifice.

"This is money that could be spent elsewhere," he added, noting the township is thousands of dollars behind on its road paving schedule.

He claims support for his plan from five of the nine people on the commission board.

"I think it's a worthwhile proposal," said Dan DeMarco, who buys coverage for himself, not his family. "... At a maximum, the most (coverage) should be given is to the commissioner only, not family members. I didn't run for commissioner to get health care benefits, and four years from now, I'm not going to base my decision to seek re-election on whether the township offers it."

Gerald O'Brien, who has coverage for himself but not his spouse, said the proposal Eyster will introduce next week has merit.

"I'm willing to give it up," he said. "If you're in it because of the health insurance then you should get out."

Lana Mazur, said she would find another way to get insurance if the proposal passes. She has coverage for herself and a child.

"I'm waiting to see exactly what (Eyster's ordinance) says," Mazur said. "I agree we need to do something."

Commissioner Grace Stanko, who gets coverage for herself and her husband, declined comment, saying that would violate health privacy laws. She said she would discuss the proposal privately with other commissioners.

David Mikec and Commission President Grant Montgomery, whose 2011 insurance plans cover their families and each cost $22,700, did not return calls.

The Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO Blue plan includes dental, vision and prescription coverage. Co-pays for doctor visits are $10; for prescriptions, $5 for generic drugs and $15 for name brands.

"The plan we have is super," O'Brien said. "I've had three surgeries on the plan and only paid $10 to the surgeon."

Ross appears to be one of only a few townships offering insurance to its elected officials. Crafton, Carnegie, Edgewood, Edgeworth, Etna, Franklin Park, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Monroeville, Pine, Sewickley and West Mifflin do not offer elected officials health insurance.

Richard Hadley, executive director of the Allegheny County League of Municipalities, said state law permits including commissioners in a local government's policy but "I don't think there are very many at all" that offer coverage to volunteer elected officials. He said the nonprofit does not track that.

Shaler offers single coverage for its commissioners and three of the seven pay 3 percent toward premiums that cost the township $560 a month, said Manager Tim Rogers. Wilkins Manager Rebecca Bradley said the township pays $22,000 a year for health insurance for one commissioner and the commissioner's spouse. The commissioner contributes $100 a month, but soon will move to a plan with a $3,000 yearly deductible.

Ross commissioners can opt in the township's plan regardless of whether they can get coverage elsewhere, such as from an employer or Medicare.

Last year, the most recent for which data are available, eight Ross commissioners carried health insurance through the township. Six insured themselves and family members. Of those, three -- O'Brien, Mazur and Dan Kinross, who is no longer on the board -- each paid 5 percent of premiums from their yearly stipend of $5,000. O'Brien paid $375 annually for single coverage; Kinross paid $994 for husband-wife coverage; and Mazur paid $893.

The premiums Ross officials paid appear to be less than the national average, according to a survey released in September by the nonprofits Kaiser Family Foundation of Menlo Park, Calif. and the Health Research & Educational Trust in Chicago.

The survey found employees with single coverage contribute 17 percent of their insurance costs -- on average, $921 -- and employees with family coverage contribute 27 percent, or an average of $4,129.

By comparison, Eyster said, Ross public works employees contribute 5 percent; police officers, 6.7 percent; and the township's administrative staff, 10 percent.

If his plan to cut the insurance succeeds, it would not immediately take effect across the board. State law prohibits that. Half of the commissioners would lose coverage in 2014 and half in 2016.

Beyond the boundaries

Health insurance coverage for elected officials has drawn scrutiny in other towns.

In August, the State Ethics Commission found that three North Versailles officials unintentionally violated the state Ethics Act when they signed themselves up for taxpayer-paid health insurance without the knowledge or approval of other commissioners.

An independent audit completed in 2009 alerted other North Versailles officials that Ruth Grimes, 52, Bryan Dull, 32, and his father, Dennis Dull, 60, received health insurance between March and November 2008.

The ethics commission in August 2010 ordered them to pay back more than $14,000 in premiums. Dennis Dull is repaying the township $6,897. Bryan Dull paid back $2,989, and Grimes paid back $4,401.

Bryan Dull resigned his position in February 2009. Dennis Dull and Grimes lost in the May 2011 primary.

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