FARGO — Fargo Metropolis Commissioner John Strand has requested the town to look into including contraceptive protection to its worker medical insurance plan.
Fargo’s “grandfathered” medical insurance plan permits the town to bypass the federal requirement to cowl contraceptives.
On the Monday, July 11, Metropolis Fee assembly, Strand stated he hoped they might weigh the professionals and cons and get a way of whether or not it is practical so as to add protection to the town’s medical insurance plan.
“In mild of Roe v. Wade being dismantled by the Supreme Court docket, I believe we’re compelled to know what are the implications to our workforce,” Strand stated.
“Are there any gaps in providers that can be coming to households? … Is there a want to have contraceptive protection?” he requested. “I would like the general public to know we’re taking note of these points.”
Human Assets Director Jill Minette stated the town’s medical insurance is obtainable by way of Blue Cross Blue Protect. The grandfathered plan adopted in 2018 was modeled after the Public Staff Retirement System plan and doesn’t embody contraceptive protection, she stated.
The plan is reviewed yearly, Minette stated, noting metropolis workers have requested about oral contraceptive protection up to now.
When taking a look at choices to extend contraceptive and different protection in previous years, she stated, the town discovered it could imply a ten% enhance in premiums, on high of what has been a couple of 15% enhance lately.
“It actually turns into a query of what can the town price range help, and what can particular person workers who’re enrolled in our medical insurance help,” she stated.
Minette famous there are added advantages when transferring to a better protection plan, reminiscent of elevated preventive care and different positives.
Commissioner Arlette Preston requested Commissioner Denise Kolpack, a former Blue Cross Blue Protect govt, if she knew of any research evaluating the price of unplanned pregnancies with protecting contraceptives.
Kolpack stated she has not seen such a examine.
Boosting worker advantages can have unintended penalties, she added, reminiscent of shedding the town plan’s grandfathered standing.
Medical insurance is “one of many largest bills that the residents pay for as a part of the overall price range,” Kolpack famous.
Minette stated early estimates for 2023 premiums would possible be obtainable in August or September, and the town may have a look at choices at the moment. No motion was taken at Monday’s assembly.