After Starkville aldermen unanimously approved a change in employee’s insurance options Tuesday, officials downplayed an unauthorized press release by Human Rights Campaign that applauded the city for extending coverage to workers’ LGBT partners, instead saying the new, tiered-rate packages provide cost-saving options for all employees, rather than a specific group.
Previously, the city paid for individual employees’ Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi medical coverage — approximately $393.19 per year — while workers could extend coverage to their spouse and immediate children for an additional $600.39 annually out of their own pockets.
The board’s action Tuesday created new tiers: the single employee and entire family rates remain but are both $2 cheaper per year, however workers can now choose to add an adult dependent or just their children for an additional $348.74 or $268.95 annually.
The city will not incur any additional costs for the changes.
Approval was needed, documents show, so Starkville could proceed with open enrollment dates Monday and Tuesday.
HRC, which previously commended Starkville for adding LGBT-specific language to its non-discrimination policy for employees, issued a press release Friday commending Starkville for becoming the first city in the state to grant domestic partner benefits for LGBT workers.
While the insurance coverage can extend to workers and their partners who are in long-term relationships not recognized by the state, Wiseman said the insurance change goes far beyond targeting one group of people.
HRC’s release also contained inaccuracies, the mayor said, including that Wiseman announced plans to appoint two LGBT liaisons to “support the needs and provide resources to the LGBT community, including working with the city’s police department.”
Plans are not in the works to create those positions, Wiseman said.
After state news organizations reported on HRC’s statement Friday, city staff members said phones at City Hall began to ring with complaints.
“I have an open-door policy that is well known to our community, and it’s well known that my office is a safe place for anyone with any issue to come. I am committed to making sure Starkville is a safe place for all communities, including the LGBT community,” Wiseman said. “(The insurance policy change) is not related to marital status at all. HRC picked up on that, though. Being a civil rights organization that represents the LGBT community, they were very encouraged by our new policy; however, there are other implications. Our desire is to offer maximum benefits to all employees, and if HRC is excited for what that means, that’s a good thing.”
In a time when the state has not created a health care exchange or expanded insurance gaps not covered under the Affordable Care Act, Wiseman said extending benefits for employees was the right thing for the board of aldermen to do.
“This is a broader policy on broader terms. It will help cover employees’ children that they’ve had with someone they’re not married to. If someone is married but does not have children, they have the opportunity of reducing their payment a ton,” he said. “That’s what we’re in the business of doing: giving the most cost-effective benefits to our employees.”
Starkville Chief Administrative Officer Taylor Adams said other cities reached out to staff this week about its new insurance policy and could soon dovetail similar changes into their agendas.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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