Municipalities owe it to taxpayers to take advantage of changes
Massachusetts’ new state budget will allow municipalities to increase deductibles and copays or shift workers to the state’s insurance plan to control skyrocketing insurance costs for employees, including local teachers.
It’s a smart move. The only problem is that the changes are optional.
The Country Gazette reports that “The Mass. Municipal Association has estimated towns and cities could see $100 million in savings if they opt to make changes, or 6 percent or so, depending on the community. It will be up to municipalities whether to opt into the new system.”
The health insurance changes are no longer a subject of collective bargaining, and that’s definitely a good thing.
We certainly hope that municipal leaders implement the reforms, especially considering the dire financial straits facing many municipal and school budgets. Those leaders owe it to taxpayers – who have footed the bill for increased insurance costs over the years – to take full advantage of the measure.
A plan that would make the insurance changes mandatory would have been preferable, but the measure approved as part of the budget Tuesday is a step in the right direction.
For years, the state’s teachers union has resisted similar cost-containing efforts that would have had the potential to funnel more money toward student needs. Local leaders were forced to find other ways to cut costs, a reality that has undoubtedly caused problems in many school systems.
Now, union leaders can have their say about health insurance changes during a 30-day discussion period, but ultimately municipal leaders can decide what’s best, at least in regards to copays or transfer to the state’s insurance plan.
While the health care changes implemented in Massachusetts this week are no perfect fix, and are unnecessarily limited, they are a step in the right direction. We encourage local leaders to implement elements of the reforms that will save taxpayer money, especially during the current economic climate.
Those leaders now have the power to override union objections to changes in health insurance plans that will save cash, and they owe it to taxpayers to do so.
