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In Hawaii, employers are required to pay for 98.5% of health insurance premiums for all employees working 20 hours or more per week... But not the state and county governments. Currently the state pays 50%, Maui County and Hawaii County both pay 60%, and Kauai and Honolulu both pay 50%.
I've been trying to research and figure out why the governments are exempt but I can't find anything. Does anybody remember why they are exempt? Isn't that hypocritical? The whole point of a mandate is to increase coverage... So why would the state exempt itself and the county governments, which are some of the biggest employers in Hawaii?
It makes a huge difference to workers at the bottom of the pay scale. For us, 40% or 50% of $300 is a lot. Not to mention the much higher premiums if you include a spouse or children. It's enough of a cost that I considered dropping health insurance.
In Hawaii, employers are required to pay for 98.5% of health insurance premiums for all employees working 20 hours or more per week... But not the state and county governments. Currently the state pays 50%, Maui County and Hawaii County both pay 60%, and Kauai and Honolulu both pay 50%.
I've been trying to research and figure out why the governments are exempt but I can't find anything. Does anybody remember why they are exempt? Isn't that hypocritical? The whole point of a mandate is to increase coverage... So why would the state exempt itself and the county governments, which are some of the biggest employers in Hawaii?
It makes a huge difference to workers at the bottom of the pay scale. For us, 40% or 50% of $300 is a lot. Not to mention the much higher premiums if you include a spouse or children. It's enough of a cost that I considered dropping health insurance.
In Hawaii, employees are responsible for up to 1/2 of the premium up to 1.5% of their wages. Employers are not responsible for 98.5% of the premium - that is a huge difference. [SIZE=2][/SIZE]
Individual Contribution
Employees are responsible for half of the premium up to 1.5% of their wages. Haw. Rev. Stat. § 393-13.
In Hawaii, employees are responsible for up to 1/2 of the premium up to 1.5% of their wages. Employers are not responsible for 98.5% of the premium - that is a huge difference. [SIZE=2][/SIZE]
Individual Contribution
Employees are responsible for half of the premium up to 1.5% of their wages. Haw. Rev. Stat. § 393-13.
Ah, yes that's different.
But my salary is $36500. 1.5% of that is $547. I pay $146/month and $24/month prescription drug, which comes out to $2040/year. That's 5.5%
I've been trying to research and figure out why the governments are exempt but I can't find anything. Does anybody remember why they are exempt? Isn't that hypocritical? The whole point of a mandate is to increase coverage... So why would the state exempt itself and the county governments, which are some of the biggest employers in Hawaii?
Here's a link to a PDF of a policy brief entitled "A Historical Overview of Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act" that might shed a little light on the subject... http://healthcoveragehawaii.org/pdf/...al%20Brief.pdf
Well, no doubt your health insurance is higher as a percentage of income.
However, State of Hawaii employees enjoy other benefits many in the private sector do not have, if I recall correctly - state employees in the first year have 21 days vacation per year, 21 sick days per year, 13 paid holidays, and wider choices for pension plans.
In answer to your original question, why the exemption - I believe that has to do with collective bargaining. Collective bargaining trumps the statutes in Hawaii.
Probably the same reason as to why the U.S. senate have a whole bunch of laws that pertain to a whole bunch of folks other than themselves. Those who make the laws frequently decide who the laws apply to.
Here's a link to a PDF of a policy brief entitled "A Historical Overview of Hawaii’s Prepaid Health Care Act" that might shed a little light on the subject... http://healthcoveragehawaii.org/pdf/...al%20Brief.pdf
Thanks. That explains it... Government and union workers are all exempt from the mandate. I guess the reasoning is they can bargain for health insurance... so we bargain our way to $140/month while most private sector workers pay nothing.
Quote:
Exempt workers are as follows: government employees, seasonal employees,
family-type employment (spouse working for spouse), real estate persons or
insurance agents paid solely by commission, collective bargaining workers, and
those who work less than 20 hours per week for a given employer.
Well, no doubt your health insurance is higher as a percentage of income.
However, State of Hawaii employees enjoy other benefits many in the private sector do not have, if I recall correctly - state employees in the first year have 21 days vacation per year, 21 sick days per year, 13 paid holidays, and wider choices for pension plans.
In answer to your original question, why the exemption - I believe that has to do with collective bargaining. Collective bargaining trumps the statutes in Hawaii.
Yep, we get 21 vacation and 21 sick days a year.
I'd rather have no pension and keep the $200/month... but if everybody who wasn't going to take advantage of pension could opt out, there would be no pension.
I'd rather have no pension and keep the $200/month... but if everybody who wasn't going to take advantage of pension could opt out, there would be no pension.
And, those are paid days off, which many people do not get near that many (if any at all regarding sick days) let alone the first year of employment.
You don't want your pension? Why? (just curious, sorry!)
And, those are paid days off, which many people do not get near that many (if any at all regarding sick days) let alone the first year of employment.
You don't want your pension? Why? (just curious, sorry!)
Yep, and I think all jobs should give this many sick and vacation days. It's a travesty that most private sector employers and most local govs give 10 PTO days per year now.
I don't want a pension because I need the money NOW. I have no intention of working for the county for $12/hr take home pay for decades and retire with a meager pension (not that I can afford to keep working for the county anyway).
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