Village of Massena seeing significant rise in health care costs

Jan. 15—MASSENA — The village of Massena is looking at a hefty increase in the rates for one of its health care plans.

Treasurer Kevin M. Felt said they're looking at a 40.9% increase in United Healthcare's Prescription and Medicare Supplement Plan for employees, retirees, and/or spouses who are age 65 and over.

He said that will increase the village's monthly cost from $318.41 in 2024 to $448.53 this year.

"I'm not sure why it was that jump, but it did go up," Felt said.

The village has a separate plan with AARP, but that increase was not as significant. Those costs will go up 9%, from $332 in 2024 to $362 this year.

Felt said they also received an update on the village's premiums for Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, their health insurance provider. Those rates will increase 4.94%.

"They had submitted a request for 13% to the state," Village Administrator Monique N. Chatland said.

"They don't always get that, so we're better off for it," Felt said.

He said their provider updates premiums on a calendar year basis. But, those premiums cover two fiscal years since the village's fiscal year runs from June through May.

"That's made to cross over both fiscal years because of our fiscal year being June through May. We will see an increase in the premium costs of 4.94% for fiscal year 2024-2025, January to May, and fiscal year 2025-2026, June to December," he said.

The premium to cover employees will increase from $664.32 in 2024 to $697.13 this year. The premium will increase from $1,328.64 in 2024 to $1,394.26 this year for employees and spouse coverage.

The premium to cover employees and children will increase from $1,129.35 in 2024 to $1,185.12 this year. And, for family coverage, the premium will increase from $1,893.32 in 2024 to $1,986.82 this year.

During the latest village board meeting, Felt also reported on the status of the village's audit with its new firm, the EFPR Group from Rochester.

"Our auditors, EFPR Group, were here the first week of December to complete their field work. They have three of them. They were very happy with what they had. I was able to give them a lot of information. We have file sharing, so I was able to get a lot of that stuff uploaded for them before they showed up, which made for a shorter stay here," he said. "With that complete, we are now winding down providing them with the requested backup for testing."

Felt anticipated wrapping up his financial statement preparation last month so it could be reviewed this month with a goal of completion by the end of January.

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