‘We’ve lost good people:’ Dartmouth wrestling with health care costs

Standard Times, The (New Bedford, MA)

May 23--DARTMOUTH -- Many qualified candidates pass up the opportunity to work for the town when they realize the cost of healthcare, according to the president of the Dartmouth Town Employee Association.

Not only that, but there's been a high turnover of staff mostly due to the cost of health care, Susan Pierce, president of the association, told the Select Board Monday night. "Our members are struggling with the exorbitant cost of our health insurance," she said.

At Monday night's meeting, Pierce and Renee Vieira, Dartmouth Educators Association president, went before the board to express how the increase in cost is hurting their members and ask for the board's support in finding a solution. The board didn't take any votes regarding this topic.

In Dartmouth, there is a 52/48 split meaning the town provides 52 percent of the cost of the premium, leaving the rest to the employee.

Overall, the healthcare cost went up by 12.66 percent in town, explained Greg Barnes, the director of budget and finance and the interim co-town administrator.

"We've lost good people to other districts," Vieira said.

Millennials will use working in Dartmouth as a "springboard" and will leave once they find a better job with improved benefits, Pierce said.

"We need to put people before projects," she said.

"I can make it work," Vieira said, but others have come to her to say they're not sure what they can do and have to start looking for another job.

Select Board chairman Shawn McDonald said "your comments are not lost on this board, that's for sure."

McDonald said there can't continue to be 2 percent increases in pay and expect to increase the cost of health insurance over 10 percent. However, he admitted there's not an easy answer. The last thing he wants to do is lay people off in order to change the premium split, he said.

"I believe the town and its employees should be looking at this for the best possible health plan at the best possible cost," McDonald said.

In the short term, the town is offering a high deductible plan which was introduced this year, Barnes said.

"It's not ideal for all, but it is a new option," Barnes told The Standard-Times Tuesday. Those who choose it can save 30 percent on the premium.

He went on to say the town understands this option isn't a "cure all" and recognizes it's going to be a topic in upcoming collective bargaining discussions.

Barnes said Dartmouth provides a generous plan in terms of having less copays and deductibles than what one would normally find on the private market. However, the 52 percent the town provides is on the lower end of what other municipalities provide on average.

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