Trenton N.J. – Yesterday, the Trenton City Council voted to switch from the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program, controlled by the State Health Benefits Commission, to Aetna. At minimum, this move will save Trenton taxpayers an annual $4.3 million with no loss in benefits to Trenton city employees.
In September 2022, the State Health Benefits Commission approved a nearly 23% local government health insurance rate increase and a 21% increase in state employee health insurance rates. In the approving the switch to Aetna, the City of Trenton caps the increase in health insurance rates at 4%. At the time, Mayor Gusciora spoke to a crowd of state labor organizations, including the Communication Workers of America, outside the Statehouse Annex, and criticized the proposed hike in health care spending.
Today, Mayor W. Reed Gusciora remarked, “I would like to thank Business Administrator Adam Cruz and the Trenton City Council for working together to control city spending on health care amid record-high inflation and the increase in demand for health care services. Our teamwork is already paying off for the Capital City.”
The Trenton City Council unanimously approved the city’s switch from the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program to Aetna with Councilmembers Joe Harrison (East Ward), Teska Frisby (West Ward), Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg (South Ward), and Jenn Williams (North Ward) voting to save taxpayer funds.
Councilwoman Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg (South Ward) affirmed, “As a state employee, I knew that we needed to protect Trentonians from the rise in health care spending. This week, we stood up to the State Health Benefits Commission, and we stood with the hardworking city employees in Trenton.”
Councilman Joe Harrison (East Ward) agreed, “The State Health Benefits Commission passed on costs to taxpayers, employees, and employers. This week, we showed that working together we can save Trenton taxpayers money.”
* Correction: The name 'Jenna Figueroa Kettenberg' has been corrected to 'Jenna Figueroa Kettenburg.'
