Some members of volunteer fire and ambulance companies, as well as municipalities may be able to rejoin the state’s health insurance pool beginning next year.
Former Gov. Ruth Ann Minner’s administration put a moratorium on accepting new enrollees from those entities into Delaware’s public plan in 2006 because of cost issues.
Last year, state lawmakers asked the Office of Management and Budget to assess the feasibility of the move, with no taxpayer money going toward their coverage.
Based on that research, Budget Director Ann Visalli says the proposal won’t be an extra burden.
“Based on the premiums and administrative premium they’ll be paying – they’ll pay the same premiums as state employees and retirees per employee, depending on the plan that they pick – [that] should cover the cost and should cover the claims,” said Visalli.
Once part of the state’s plan, those that leave would not be able to rejoin for three years.
If approved, these entities could apply for coverage for paid employees working at least 30 hours a week as early as July, but coverage wouldn’t begin until January 1st.
Sen. Bruce Ennis (D-Smyrna) requested the change and says the new opportunity will appeal to a wide crowd.
“I think a lot of companies have, in the last three or four years, have seen the benefit of it, but simply didn’t apply before the epilogue language appeared prohibiting it. Yeah, I think they will [sign up],” said Ennis.
