MONROE - A program which offers cash instead of health insurance to city employees was narrowly approved for its second year by the Monroe Common Council Tuesday.
Currently, the city pays full-time, active employees $2,000 per year, or $76.92 per paycheck, if they choose not to use an insurance plan. City Comptroller Bridget Schuchart said that in 2016, the city was given the choice to offer a cash incentive to those who do not take health insurance plans. The city pays $15,000 per family plan and roughly $7,600 for each single plan.
Schuchart distributed a survey to city employees to find out if they used the benefit, which plan they are enrolled, if they have an alternative source of health insurance and how much would require them to use another option apart from the city's benefits. Of the 76 respondents, 52 currently use the family plan. A total of 83 employees have coverage while 11 have opted out. Schuchart said 53 have no alternative and that to choose an alternative, answers skewed between $3,000 to $5,000 as appropriate compensation.
Council members approved the plan 4-3. Aldermen Charles Koch, Chris Beer and Ron Marsh voted against the incentive plan while fellow members Tom Miller, Reid Stangel, Jeff Newcomer and Brooke Bauman voted for the current plan.
"Insurance is a benefit offered through the city," Koch said. "I don't see why we would pay them if they're not taking advantage of it."
Marsh echoed the sentiment while Beer mentioned that at the Green County level, no such offer is made to employees.
This year was the first time the city was allowed to offer cash in lieu of health insurance. The state set a precedent of $2,000 which the council followed in its decision. Schuchart said before the offer, eight employees did not take health insurance. In 2016, 11 total choose not to use the benefit, though whether the $2,000 drove the change is unclear.
Currently, the city pays full-time, active employees $2,000 per year, or $76.92 per paycheck, if they choose not to use an insurance plan. City Comptroller Bridget Schuchart said that in 2016, the city was given the choice to offer a cash incentive to those who do not take health insurance plans. The city pays $15,000 per family plan and roughly $7,600 for each single plan.
Schuchart distributed a survey to city employees to find out if they used the benefit, which plan they are enrolled, if they have an alternative source of health insurance and how much would require them to use another option apart from the city's benefits. Of the 76 respondents, 52 currently use the family plan. A total of 83 employees have coverage while 11 have opted out. Schuchart said 53 have no alternative and that to choose an alternative, answers skewed between $3,000 to $5,000 as appropriate compensation.
Council members approved the plan 4-3. Aldermen Charles Koch, Chris Beer and Ron Marsh voted against the incentive plan while fellow members Tom Miller, Reid Stangel, Jeff Newcomer and Brooke Bauman voted for the current plan.
"Insurance is a benefit offered through the city," Koch said. "I don't see why we would pay them if they're not taking advantage of it."
Marsh echoed the sentiment while Beer mentioned that at the Green County level, no such offer is made to employees.
This year was the first time the city was allowed to offer cash in lieu of health insurance. The state set a precedent of $2,000 which the council followed in its decision. Schuchart said before the offer, eight employees did not take health insurance. In 2016, 11 total choose not to use the benefit, though whether the $2,000 drove the change is unclear.