Senator Greenstein Issues the Following Statement on Forthcoming Health Insurance Vote, Adverse Impact to New Jersey’s Public Workers.

In a letter to New Jersey labor officials earlier this month, State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio shared that proposed health insurance rate hikes for public workers on the State Health Benefits Program must be approved at the State Health Benefits Commission meeting tomorrow morning, Wednesday, September 14th. If approved, residents working in the public sector could see their health insurance rates increase up to 21%, with rates for local governments potentially rising by roughly 24%.

“Teachers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, nurses as well as municipal, county and state employees descended upon the New Jersey State House this afternoon to protest with their other union brothers and sisters against these outrageous proposed healthcare cost hikes today. I echo several of my colleagues and labor leaders in advocating for a new, effective, streamlined process by which these increases are determined.

We need to reach a new and fair agreement that puts New Jersey’s public sector workers first and ensures their continued in-network access to State hospitals, laboratory services, and physicians. District 14 is a community of working families who wish to maintain usable coverage at a fair price. We must bring more transparency to the process by which these increases are decided.

Though there is no immediate resolution, I look forward to revisiting negotiations and continuing our work with various public sector organizations and agencies to reduce the proposed costs.”