Politics & Government
Austell Employees to Pay $5 Weekly for Healthcare
Previously Austell employees paid nothing out of pocket for their healthcare.
The City of Austell will pay the majority of its employees’ health coverage, but city employees will be required to pay a weekly $5 fee, which will bring in approximately $24,000.
The city will cover employees’ $1,000 deductible, and the $3,000 maximum deductible for families.
“It’s hard for them (employees) to get $1,000,” said Mayor Joe Jerkins at the July City Council meeting, where the council unanimously voted to change insurance carriers and require the new weekly fee. “It’s much easier for them to pay $5 a week.”
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On June 29, the General Administration Committee met to consider a renewal proposal by the city’s broker, Chip Boyd of Heritage Corporate Benefits.
Insurance rates have continued to increase in recent years, said Mayor Joe Jerkins, and facing an increase of a whopping 22 percent this year, Jerkins said he decided to switch insurance carriers all together.
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Even after switching to Coventry Healthcare, the city will incur an increased insurance rate of 3.7 percent.
City employees attended open enrollment meetings last week.
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