Cedar Falls City Council approves changes to insurance benefits

CEDAR FALLS — Prompted by a firefighter’s widow, City Council members unanimously approved changes to the city’s health insurance benefits, extending coverage for dependents of eligible peace officers and firefighters.

Carrie Sherwood broached the issue after she and her children were dropped from the city’s health insurance in February, one week after the death of her husband, longtime Cedar Falls firefighter Brad Sherwood.

The changes will allow the dependents of peace officers and firefighters who would be eligible for accidental death benefits or whose deaths are ruled duty-related to remain on city insurance until the children turn 26 and the spouse becomes Medicare eligible at 65.

The change is retroactive to Feb. 1, so the Sherwood family is eligible for coverage.

Surviving family would pay the employee rate for three years and then be charged the full cost of the coverage.

Bailey Schindel, the city’s human resources manager, said that would be comparable to COBRA rates, minus administrative costs.

The city’s policy did allow dependents to continue coverage if a peace officer or firefighter died in the line of duty. The amendment changes “line of duty” to “duty-related” and adds those who received an accidental death benefit.

Another change would extend health insurance coverage for the family following the death of any city employee for any reason. Previously, dependents could stay on city insurance until the last day of the month in which the employee died. That has been extended to the last day of the month following the death.

That change went into effect Monday.

The council discussed the changes in a committee of the whole meeting prior to its regular meeting Monday. Present council members voted unanimously to approve the changes, including Daryl Kruse who attended virtually. Councilwoman Kelly Dunn was absent.

Schindel explained the city’s current policy and the proposed changes to it.

“Wellmark has approved the proposed revisions and confirmed that these revisions would be covered by stop-loss insurance,” she said. “They agreed to this since the request was so specific and it only affects a small number of individuals.”

Carrie Sherwood attended both meetings and was pleased with the progress made.

“I was incredibly relieved when Cedar Falls council unanimously voted to implement a policy,” she said. “Extending the health insurance gives me some security while trying to navigate this new life I didn’t want without my husband. I am grateful it passed not just for my family. ... If, God forbid, this happens again there is a clear policy in place. It will be so much smoother and a less stressful situation for the families.

“Three years at employee cost is definitely better than one week,” she said.

She was especially grateful to Mayor Danny Laudick for his efforts.

“I can’t put into words what Mayor Laudick has done for my family,” she said. “He listened to the reasons I was giving every time I pushed back. He put a lot of hours into this for me. He made calls to try to figure out why I was finding conflicting information.

“I will forever be thankful for Mayor Laudick’s compassion, timely and thoughtful communication and focus on finding the correct information and options.”

The council also moved ahead the proposed construction of two duplexes in the 2500 block of Franklin Street by approving an alteration of the plat and a design review of the College Hill Neighborhood Overlay District.

Jake Geisler purchased the property at 2511 Franklin St. and the adjacent vacant lot to the south. He intends to demolish the existing house and garage and plans to rent the new three-bedroom, two-bathroom duplexes to college students.

Photos: UNI begins demolition on beloved former home of UNI wrestling, volleyball, hoops

The University of Northern Iowa began the process of demolishing the West Gym which previously housed the Panthers' wrestling, volleyball and basketball programs.

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