CARMEL – The cost of health insurance for municipal retirees of Putnam County government is causing consternation for the former employees.
In the late 1900’s retirees were assessed a flat amount for their health insurance while the county picked up the remaining premiums.
At the turn of the 21st century, due to rising costs, the county set rates based on the retiree’s hiring date, age at retirement and length of service.
Last year, pension-based contribution rates were increased by the Putnam Legislature for six salary ranges with the minimum set at 8 percent for retirees whose pensions did not exceed $9,999 to as much as 30 percent for those receiving pensions of $65,000 or more.
Dozens of employees attended the recent meeting of the legislature’s Personnel Committee pleading with the lawmakers to reduce the amount they contribute.
Jane Meunier-Gorman, a 39-year long county employee, who served as president of the local CSEA chapter, told the committee, “We were made promises and were told that we would always have affordable health insurance.”
Meunier-Gorman said her annual pension is $50,000 while her county health coverage has soared to $10,000.
“I can’t afford this,” she said.
Another former county employee, John Mulreany, described the increases as “deeply troubling. They are placing a significant unexpected burden on us living on fixed incomes,” he said.
Legislator Toni Addonizio who chairs the committee voiced opposition to pension-based contributions for health insurance. She suggested that the county consider how other municipalities deal with years of service and insurance contributions.
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