New law to cost Ogdensburg more money

OGDENSBURG — The state Health Benefits Reform legislation is expected to cost Ogdensburg about $1,200 more per year, Mayor Steve Ciasullo announced on May 26.

Ciassulo and Councilman Robert McGuire sasid the police officer and employee new health care plan went into effect June 1.

McGuire said that Chapter 78 of the legislation forced the Borough to change its health insurance plan. As of June 1, the employees moved from their Horizon health savings plans to the Oxford United Healthcare plan, a more traditional health care plan. Under Chapter 78, deductions through a savings plan are no longer allowed per state statute.

Although employees will pay a little more, the new plan will ultimately be better. Major components are: lower deductibles and a lower maximum out of pocket expenses to $8,000, which used to be $12,000. Also, paperwork will no longer need to be filled out for reimbursements. Instead, there will be straight copays with deductibles waived for doctor visits.

McGuire already talked to some of the police officers and Department of Public Works employees to answer questions.

Ciasullo said that years ago, in order to make insurance affordable and beneficial for the employees, the borough used an affordable health-care savings account.

"The catch 22 is (the state) implements a healthcare reform act, and it ends up costing more money," Ciasullo said. "It costs everybody money. It's no different than the Federal Act.”

He also said the borough is in this plan for a year, and if it is not working, borough officials will look for something else.