Hudson to see insurance savings with MIIA agreement

216

Work to remove lead paint in Hudson’s town hall was set to begin on Aug. 16. (Photo/Dakota Antelman)
Hudson’s Town Hall is located at 78 Main Street. The Select Board recently approved a personal effects coverage agreement. (Photo/Dakota Antelman)

HUDSON — After months of negotiations through the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA), the Hudson Select Board approved and agreed to sign a personal effects coverage agreement relative to employee health plan design changes, which will mean a savings for the town of Hudson.

On April 24, Executive Assistant Thomas Gregory said the agreement represents months of work and is “the culmination [of] months of effort made by the unions here in Hudson.”

The change in Sections 21 and 22 of the health insurance plan allows the town of Hudson to coalition bargain with all employees in the town and schools, including retirees, over plan design changes.

“What we did was we negotiated a new plan design, which doesn’t exceed or is more burdensome than the GIC [Group Insurance Commission] benchmark,” Gregory said.

Gregory said the offer is being made through the MIIA so they were able to put in place an out-of-pocket disclosure and deductible increases.

“So that yielded a significant savings,” he said. “At the same time, we were able to get 100% agreement with all bargaining units over the premium contribution split between employer and employees, which you know, has been 50-50 for decades.”

To live up the agreement, he would be phasing in a 65-35 split for the HMO plan and 5545 split for the PPO.

“This is a win for the town. This is a win for the taxpayers. This is a win for the employees here in Hudson,” said Gregory.

Chair Scott Duplisea said it was great that the negotiations lasted a relatively short period of time and were successful.

He added, “I’m glad. It’s always good when it’s beneficial for the town and the employees.”

Gregory attributed the short negotiation time to research prior to the process because “everyone around the table was fully informed.”

The Select Board approved and considered signing the MIIA Health Benefits Trust, which is the document that formalizes the relationship between the town and MIIA. He said Hudson being a part of a joint purchase group will include it in a larger insurance pool.

Other news

In financial news, the Select Board authorized the Library Director Aileen Sanchez-Himes to apply for the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program 2023-24 grant.

Tom Desmond, chair of the board of library trustees, said, “It’s just a start of a long process.”

He said they were “trying to get our foot in the door” to start to apply for grants.

Duplisea added, “Grants are good.”

The board also approved the following appointments: Nelia Cardoza as principal clerk for the assessor’s office effective April 24, 2023, Jacob Millette to the Conservation Commission as a full-voting member for a term to expire Dec. 31, 2024, and Joseph Aponte to the Hudson Historical District Commission in the role of realtor designee for a term to expire Dec. 31, 2024.

RELATED CONTENT

Hudson stormwater utility bylaw update passes

No posts to display