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Texarkana firefighters union urges board to offer more health-plan options, warns premium hike would be like a pay cut
Summary
Daniel Fields, president of the Texark County Arkansas Firefighters Union, told the board that a proposed family premium increase (about $225/month) would amount to a pay cut and urged the city to offer a lower-deductible option plus a high-deductible HSA option so employees and retirees have choices.
At the citizen comment portion of the Dec. 2 meeting, Daniel Fields, who identified himself as president of the Texark County Arkansas Firefighters Union and a resident of Ramblewood Road, urged the board to maintain competitive employee benefits and to offer multiple health-plan options.
Fields said the proposed family premium increase would amount to roughly a $225-a-month loss in take-home pay for affected employees and warned that without competitive benefits the city risks losing trained staff. He recommended offering two options: a lower-deductible plan for those who want more comprehensive coverage and a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) paired with a city contribution to a health savings account that would remain with employees.
"A competitive health insurance package for our members is essential," Fields said, noting firefighters face elevated cancer and cardiac risks from their work and that retirees currently bear their full premiums. He urged the board to consider options that protect families, and he asked staff to clarify enrollment timing so employees can meet open-enrollment deadlines on the marketplace.
Board members and staff responded: a member noted the board had passed a resolution to pay the first month's premium at the prior meeting; staff said employees experiencing a qualifying event would be allowed to enroll through marketplace rules and offered to follow up with the union president for more details.
Fields said roughly 40 families use city health insurance; he asked about retiree coverage and recommended the board explore allowing the city to contribute toward retirees' premiums when feasible. The board did not vote on any insurance changes at the meeting.
