Officials hold the line in health-care costs in 2007
Township plays hardball with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
BY PATRICIA A. MILLER
Staff Writer

Councilman Stephen C. Acropolis told one of Brick Township’s health insurance brokers earlier this year that he wanted a “zero” increase in health-care premium costs in 2007.

He got what he wanted.

Township officials have managed to hold the line, bucking a national trend of ever-increasing health insurance premiums for employees.

“I’m a business person,” Acropolis said. “We know a little bit about negotiating. We took a little different approach this year. We went out and actively solicited proposals from other carriers.”

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey will remain the health insurance carrier for roughly 500 township employees. Horizon at first came back with a 6 percent increase over the approximately $6 million the township spent for employee health care last year, Acropolis said.

“I told our broker, we have to get it to zero or we are going to look other places,” he said. “We are a pretty sizable plan for someone to land. I believe in the free market system. And when you have it, the people benefit.”

Township employees will still have their choice of traditional point-of-service plans, health maintenance organization plans or preferred provider plans.

Employees will still pay nothing toward the cost of health-care coverage, except for copays for doctors’ visits and copays for prescriptions. Prices will vary depending upon the type of plan an employee selects, he said.

“They are getting everything they got last year,” Acropolis said.

The township opted out of the state health insurance plan back in 2001. Union contracts mandate that employees receive “equal or better” coverage if a town decides to leave the state plan, acting Township Administrator Scott Pezarras has said.

Township Council President Anthony Matthews praised Acropolis, Councilman Michael Thulen and Councilwoman Ruthanne Scaturro at the Dec. 19 council meeting for their help in keeping the costs stable.

The township uses Insurance Management and Consulting, Belleville, as an insurance broker.