Healthcare costs
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Gopal Shenoy
May 15, 2008, 8:27:11 AM5/15/08
to Grafton Schools
Hi All,
During the budget discussions, it was mentioned that the largest
expense that the town has is healthcare costs and the exponential
increase this line item is facing.
What is the town doing to reign this in? Are the town employees being
asked to fund a bigger share of this - like many of the private
employers are doing? For example, my healthcare costs have doubled
everytime I have switched employers - increasing health care costs are
here to stay. Have the employees been asked to have a higher co-pays
to have the town save more money like private employers are doing? If
not, why not?
Can someone provide more information on what is being done - maybe
Selectwoman Cotton perhaps?
Gopal
During the budget discussions, it was mentioned that the largest
expense that the town has is healthcare costs and the exponential
increase this line item is facing.
What is the town doing to reign this in? Are the town employees being
asked to fund a bigger share of this - like many of the private
employers are doing? For example, my healthcare costs have doubled
everytime I have switched employers - increasing health care costs are
here to stay. Have the employees been asked to have a higher co-pays
to have the town save more money like private employers are doing? If
not, why not?
Can someone provide more information on what is being done - maybe
Selectwoman Cotton perhaps?
Gopal
carolin...@charter.net
May 15, 2008, 8:55:36 AM5/15/08
to Grafton Schools
I'm sure Mary Ann has more information than I but my understanding is
that we have chosen the lowest cost health care plan available within
whatever parameters we must meet. For reasons I don't clearly
understand, it would be more expensive to enter into the state's
program than to continue our own separately. (One would think the
larger pool would decrease costs but I've been told this isn't the
case). Also, the health costs to the employees are mostly dictated by
contracts. So we can't simply increase the co-pays; it has to be
negotiated.
Caroline Alper
that we have chosen the lowest cost health care plan available within
whatever parameters we must meet. For reasons I don't clearly
understand, it would be more expensive to enter into the state's
program than to continue our own separately. (One would think the
larger pool would decrease costs but I've been told this isn't the
case). Also, the health costs to the employees are mostly dictated by
contracts. So we can't simply increase the co-pays; it has to be
negotiated.
Caroline Alper
Registered_Voter
May 15, 2008, 9:00:07 AM5/15/08
to Grafton Schools
While I do not believe it was the lowest healthcare plan available,
the costs are pretty managable. You are right, one of the issues we
are faced with is negotiating with so many different unions on
healthcare. Teachers union, custodian union, DPW, etc. I believe
that the co-pays in this plan are extremely low and one of the
difficulties we are faced with is out of state retirees who are still
on the plan are an expensive option. We might be better as a town to
give them the cash equivelent and have them seek individual plans...
> > Gopal- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
the costs are pretty managable. You are right, one of the issues we
are faced with is negotiating with so many different unions on
healthcare. Teachers union, custodian union, DPW, etc. I believe
that the co-pays in this plan are extremely low and one of the
difficulties we are faced with is out of state retirees who are still
on the plan are an expensive option. We might be better as a town to
give them the cash equivelent and have them seek individual plans...
>
> - Show quoted text -
kako
May 15, 2008, 9:00:35 AM5/15/08
to Grafton Schools
Hi,
I would love to hear about this as well as I know they were reviewing
the town health plans a month or so back. I feel that good benefits
are important but as you point out, in the private sector employees
have had to bear some of the burden as employers can no longer carry
the load. I think this is something the town has to accept as well.
The copays - $5 - and % the town covers is virtually unheard of these
days and while we would all like those benefits, maybe some
concessions on this issue - a huge budget item - must be made for the
health of the whole town.
Kim
I would love to hear about this as well as I know they were reviewing
the town health plans a month or so back. I feel that good benefits
are important but as you point out, in the private sector employees
have had to bear some of the burden as employers can no longer carry
the load. I think this is something the town has to accept as well.
The copays - $5 - and % the town covers is virtually unheard of these
days and while we would all like those benefits, maybe some
concessions on this issue - a huge budget item - must be made for the
health of the whole town.
Kim
Sue D
May 15, 2008, 9:24:57 AM5/15/08
to grafton...@googlegroups.com
You do bring up a good point. $5 does seem EXTREMELY low given the rising cost of everything. I would say though, looking at the town report, I am not sure how competitive the salaries we pay our town employees are. Usually the trade-off for lower salaries, is better benefits. Again, I think $5 is extremely low. There has to be a cost/benefit analysis and a compromise. But I do think the town is currently working towards that goal -- I do see it discussed a lot when I watch the BOS meetings.
Sue
Sue
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