New MA health insurance program

For the first time in a while, there was full agreement on changes to the employee health insurance program before voting.

Town Manager Brian Sullivan announced at Monday's Board of Selectmen meeting that both parties were on the same page after a series of meetings he had with the Health Insurance Advisory Committee and outside consultants.

Selectmen unanimously supported the suggested health insurance rate increases that range from 3.5 percent to 14 percent. The rate setting, which applies to the next calendar year, is based on an estimate of what health insurance costs will be, with collective bargaining determining the share that employees contribute.

Included with the new employee program is a broader array of health plans going into open enrollment, which ends on Nov. 21.

For both HMO Blue, which has the largest enrollment of all the town's plans, and Blue Choice, two products will be offered: One with the existing benefit structure, and one with co-pay increases for drugs that would follow a three-tier model.

All non-union employees and retirees would move to the new healthcare plans, as would members of three union groups whose contracts have been negotiated. Those still at the bargaining table - Police Ranking Officers, Patrolmen, Firefighters, Arlington Administrators Association and Arlington Education Association enrollees - would remain on the existing plan until contracts are settled.