NEW: Fogarty Seeks End to Free Healthcare for General Assembly Members

NEW: Fogarty Seeks End to Free Healthcare for General Assembly Members

While the majority of General Assembly members either decline to take up the free health insurance offered to them through their role as a state legislator, or voluntarily pay at least 10 percent of the cost, a bill introduced this week by Senators Paul Fogarty, Eric Lynch and Christopher Scott Ottiano would soon mandate that those State Senators, Representatives and “general office holders” on the state’s plan contribute more towards their premiums.

Introduced yesterday and sent to the Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs, the bill, S 0103, would ask voters in the state to approve a constitutional amendment requiring “all senators, representatives and general office holders to pay twenty percent (20%) of their health insurance premiums.”

The benefits, which are reportedly worth over $7,500 for an individual plan and over $21,000 for a family plan, would cost legislators who chose to sign up $1,500 as an individual or up to $4,200 for a family plan.

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It is unclear what effect, if any, the bill would have on the option $1,000 payment lawmakers can take in lieu of health benefits through the state. Currently, 18 legislators have declined both the healthcare coverage and payment.