A proposal to extend medical insurance premiums for public employees in New Jersey is being pushed by a post-pandemic surge in demand for well being care providers, Gov. Phil Murphy mentioned.
Hundreds of state and native authorities employees and educators might face a charge improve of as a lot as 24% on well being advantages within the coming yr, and early retirees might see their charges bounce by greater than 15%, in keeping with a proposal that was leaked final week to authorities lobbyists.
“We’ve carried out extra to make healthcare extra accessible and reasonably priced than any state in America since we’ve been in workplace,” Murphy advised reporters throughout an unrelated press convention in Asbury Park on Monday. “That is yet one more reminder that we’ve extra work to do.”
When requested by a reporter, Murphy mentioned the issue isn’t distinctive to New Jersey, including that “it is a phenomenon across the nation, if not all over the world.”
The state well being advantages commissions have been set to approve the speed improve on Monday, however that vote was postponed to offer extra time to deal with questions and considerations, in keeping with New Jersey Treasury spokeswoman Jennifer Sciortino.
In a joint assertion final Thursday, state Senate President Nicholas Scutari, D-Union; Senate Majority Chief Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex; and Senate Finances Chairman Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, urged the state well being board to reject the proposal. And the Democratic state senators known as on New Jersey Treasurer Elizabeth Muoio to make use of her authority to dam the deliberate approval.
Republican management within the state Legislature have known as for the creation of a particular legislative committee to research failures by the Murphy administration that they are saying led to the premium will increase.
“It’s time we peel again the onion to search out out precisely how we acquired to the place we’re with the well being care premiums so we will maintain these accountable accountable,” state Meeting Republican Chief John DiMaio, R-Warren, mentioned in a press release.
Murphy on Monday mentioned the speed will increase have been “largely formulaic” and that his administration would proceed to work with stakeholders to make well being care extra reasonably priced in New Jersey. However he didn’t present any particulars on the steps he would possibly take to mitigate the speed will increase.
“I don’t blame individuals for having sticker shock. I’ve it as properly,” the governor mentioned. “We’ve carried out a ton of stuff, however we nonetheless have to do extra.”
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Derek Corridor could also be reached at [email protected]. Observe him on Twitter @dereknhall.
https://www.nj.com/politics/2022/07/heres-what-gov-murphy-says-about-nj-public-worker-health-benefit-rate-increases.html