Iowa Executive Council approves health plan for state police officers

DES MOINES – The Iowa Executive Council on Monday approved a six-month health insurance coverage plan for about 600 unionized state police officers that calls for a 2.84 percent renewal increase with Wellmark to carry the bargaining unit through until the 2014 enrollment plan takes effect in January.

Ed Holland of the state Department of Administrative Services said the short-term renewal was necessary because the State Police Officers Council's (SPOC) new two-year contract takes effect July 1 but insurance coverage is based on the calendar year.

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, SPOC members agreed to pay 20 percent of their monthly health insurance premiums. However, the agreement also affords members the opportunity to participate in a wellness program to be established by the state that would lower their insurance rates to not above 15 percent of the health insurance premium costs.

Holland also indicated he expects the state will be paying a new monthly fee of $15 per contract under the federal Affordable Health Care Act beginning next January, although he said program and fee guidelines have not yet been finalized. “We're waiting to get that final number,” Holland said.

“There are so many new fees in Obamacare, I think people are going to be shocked when they find out all the things that are in it,” said Branstad, a five-term Republican. He noted that the 2.84 percent in insurance rates under the SPOC renewal were “very good, it's certainly below the increases that a lot of people are experiencing.”

After the meeting, State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald expressed concern that the governor is establishing a two-pronged system whereby some unionized state workers and officials will not be charged a monthly premium for their health-care coverage while non-control workers, SPOC members and others who have volunteered will be paying 20 percent of their monthly health care premiums.

Branstad had tried to negotiate a 20 percent monthly health insurance premium contribution for American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) members but an arbitrator ruled in favor of the union's position in maintaining their current health care benefit for two more years.

“I think it will lead to a problem,” said Fitzgerald, a Democrat. “I think any business wants to have their employees engaged, enthusiastic about the whole organization, and feel they're being treated fair.

“When you have two very big differences, whether it's the union-covered folks or non-union covered folks, we've always had insurance that's been pretty consistent and I think that's worked well for Iowa government,” he noted.

“Now you're opening up a big difference on how they handle insurance. I don't think that's a good way to proceed and to throw something into the mix that possibly will cause resentment between different employees,” Fitzgerald added. “Gov. Branstad pushed this through, negotiated it and I think it was bad government policy on Gov. Branstad's part.”

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