Voters to decide healthcare plan

Feb. 19--COLUMBIA -- The town is seeking authorization from voters tonight to join a regional health insurance collaborative.

The collaborative, " Connecticut Collaborative Health Insurance Program," is being formed among various town governments and school districts in eastern Connecticut.

Voters will decide the issue of joining the collaborative during a special town meeting tonight, which starts at 6:50 p.m. in the Adella G. Urban Administrative Building conference room. The collaborative is being formed by an agreement allowing multiple municipalities and boards of education to join together to provide healthcare benefits for their employees.

With approval, the board of selectmen can join the collaborative if it feels a "viable collaborative agreement has materialized," according to the meeting's legal notice.

According to the minutes from the Feb. 5 Columbia Board of Selectmen meeting, the collaboration will lead to reduced rates, better access to programs, less variability and no change in the benefits that will be offered to employees.

After issuing a request for proposals, those involved with the collaborative unanimously selected Cigna as the health insurance provider.

Follow Michelle Firestone on Twitter -- @mfirestonetc.

___

(c)2019 The Chronicle (Willimantic, Conn.)

Visit The Chronicle (Willimantic, Conn.) at www.thechronicle.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.