Twinsburgbulletin.com – City employees could pay more for health care

Twinsburg — the administration hopes to save at least $100,000 by increasing employee health care contributions later this year.Council placed a resolution on first reading Jan. 10 that would increase non-union employee health care contributions over the next four years. the city’s seven collective bargaining units agreed to the contribution increases — which will begin this March — during contract negotiations last year. because non-union employees do not negotiate contracts, it is up to Council to change their health care contribution rate.“We understand the reality that healthcare costs are rising,” said Police Officer Tom Austin, who represented the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association during contract negotiations.City employees currently pay 6 percent for the city’s Plan a healthcare option, which has lower deductibles and co-pays for employees; and 2 percent for the Plan B option, which includes higher deductibles and co-pays.under the proposed increase, employees would contribute 9 percent for Plan a; and 5 percent for Plan B,  both starting this March. Plan a would increase to 12 percent and Plan B would increase 8 percent in March 2013.Finally, Plan a would increase to 14 percent and Plan B would increase to 10 percent in March 2014; and Plan a would increase to 15 percent and Plan B would increase to 12 percent starting in March 2015.Councilor Gary Sorace said he plans to support the legislation when it is time to vote. “I don’t see any problem with this,” he said. “this is to match what our unions have agreed to do.”“Once we are up to the 12 and 15 percent range, that will be more comparable to what private sector employees contribute,” said Human Resources Director Clayton Morris. Morris added he isn’t sure what the city will save with the increase because he doesn’t know what health care costs will be later this year. the city currently pays more than $1.3 million annually in employee health care.“I should find out what Medical Mutual’s 2012 rates will be in a few weeks,” he said. “I’m sure it will be an increase though. Once I have those, I can shop around to see if another insurance company can provide us a better rate. Even after the insurance rate increases I’m hoping we can save at least $100,000 because of the employee contribution increase.”the city has 164 full-time employees who pay into either plan. — Compiled by Reporter Emily Canning-Dean