Luzerne County Council debates employee health care contributions
Last week, Councilman
Non-union employees have been paying 10 percent toward health care since 2014.
Most union workers pay 10 percent, but there are exceptions. Some pay less, and a few pay 12 percent or 15 percent.
Brominski's proposal did not advance because the solicitor's office is reviewing council's authority to impose such a change under the home rule government implemented in 2012.
Councilwoman
The elected officials would be the controller and district attorney.
Specifically, Dobash proposes 2 percent increases annually, starting with 12 percent contributions in 2018.
Councilman
Payment amounts
This year's contributions deducted every two weeks for employees at 10 percent contributions: single,
The payments run from
Even if percentages don't change, employee contributions in all categories except single coverage are expected to rise next year due to increasing costs and an assessment of claims, the administration said.
The county budgeted
For example, employees with family coverage at 12 percent contributions are expected to pay
Contracts vary
Three groups of unionized employees are currently at 15 percent contributions, all represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, known as
--Court-appointed support staff workers hired after
--Residual unit employees hired after
--Court-related workers hired after
Only two unions still have the option for fixed payments, as opposed to percentages based on actual costs.
Unionized prison employees currently pay flat amounts or 10 percent, whichever is less. However, the prison union will convert to 10 percent contributions in 2018.
Detectives hired before
A binding arbitration decision on their contract, which expired the end of 2016, is expected soon and may convert detectives to percentages.
The county is currently negotiating five other contracts that expire at the end of this year for the
The county's Highmark HMO plan is still more generous than many in the private sector but now includes a
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