Insurance Bargaining concluded on Thursday, June 1. A tentative agreement was reached between the union coalition and the State of Minnesota to provide healthcare for all state employees for the next two years. Unlike previous bargaining cycles where the employer came to the bargaining table with take-away, regressive proposals and we fought to maintain coverage, this year features discussions that actively improve the healthcare experience. Some of the notable features of this year’s agreement include:
- 6% and 2.7% premium increases for the respective years of the agreement;
- $0 copay and $0 deductible for mental health care at cost levels 1 and 2. Cost levels 3 and 4 are reduced by $20;
- Dental Coverage maximum increases to $2200;
- Fertility Services are moved to Special Service Networks, making them permanent
- Out of Area Network care is expanded beyond Point of Service. This means that out of network care will be covered as its own new Level 3 plan within the national network, and Urgent and Emergency care will be covered at Level 3 irrespective of its national network status;
- Those whose permanent residence and principal work location are outside the state and outside the Advantage Plan’s service area will be covered at Cost Level 2 if the services are within the national plan and also at cost Level 2 if there is no plan provider available. If a national network provider is available but not used, it will be covered at Cost Level 3
Click Here for the full State Coalition Insurance Tentative Agreement Summary.