HomeMy WebLinkAboutInsurance Committee Minutes 06.28.2011 HEALTH INSURANCE COMMITTEE
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
2:00 P.M. @ City Hall
Members Present: H.P. Nuernberger Tom Nelson
Kurt Markegard Cathy Gabrian
Bill Brew
Others Present: Sam Painter
BCBS is finalizing our new contract for health insurance. Congress passed the new healthcare
plan and there are questions about grandfathering. Bargaining units that are still under contract
and were in existence prior to the implementation, have the choice of going with the new
requirements or grandfathering and staying with the provisions of the older plans. BCBS
researched this for the City of Laurel's two unions. The shop union did not have the option since
their contract expired. The police union does have the option to grandfather.
Sam called the meeting to explain that there is no benefit to grandfathering and staying with the
old provisions. The provisions of the new healthcare plan grant more benefit to the employee by
removing the lifetime cap, raising the dependent age, etc.
It was stated the municipalities are exempt until 2017 from having to be taxed on the benefit.
Motion by Bill, seconded by Tom that the City of Laurel forgoes the grandfather clause for
insurance for the police union. Motion carried 4 -1 with H.P. abstaining.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Cathy G Brian