A veto from Mayor Allen Schneider forced the Riverside City Council to hold a special meeting to change health insurance plans.

The council approved the 2018 Wellmark plan December 11 which has a monthly rate of $664.54, and drops the percentage of the city’s monthly contributions from 95% for individuals and 90% for families to 75%. Employees’ concerns that this change combined with an increase in premium costs overall and a lack of time to shop around for other plans influenced Schneider to veto the council’s resolution.

Utility Billing Clerk Becky LaRoche said how the resolution would affect her monthly deductible, “My deduction was $20 on the old plan. And I know that’s going to go bye-bye or whatever, but the new plan for the same amount of whatever coverage, mine jumps to $140. That’s $120 out of my budget that’s gone and that’s me single. I know it’s much worse for a family plan.”

The council approved a new plan that includes the city contributing 90% for both individual and family plans for monthly deductions. Employees must also pay $2000 for individual and $4000 for family plans into a health savings account. The council agreed to contribute $1000 for individuals in January, and $1,500 for family plans with an additional $1000 paid over six months for family plans. Schneider said he takes responsibility for not addressing this issue sooner, and the council plans to go over Wellmark plan rates for 2019 in October.