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Monmouth Beach commissioners authorize exploration of Central Jersey health insurance fund
Summary
Commissioners approved preliminary resolutions to let staff apply to the Central Jersey Health Insurance Fund (CJHIF) for potential enrollment, saying the move preserves time-limited options to seek alternatives to the State Health Benefits Plan while promising no immediate changes to employee coverage.
The Borough of Monmouth Beach commissioners on July 1 passed preliminary resolutions authorizing staff to pursue application to the Central Jersey Health Insurance Fund (CJHIF) as part of an effort to find alternatives to rising costs in the State Health Benefits Plan.
The chair said the borough had been "hit with a 27 increase, I believe it was, this year, and the estimated percentage increase at this moment for next year is 22%," framing the resolutions as a way to explore options without immediately changing employee benefits. A commissioner told the board CJHIF has allowed other nearby municipalities to choose different plans and deductibles and said the fund could let the borough "pick different plans and different levels of deductibles." He cautioned that CJHIF operates like an individual fund: "if we run over what we think we're gonna spend on health care for the borough this year... we would have to come up with the difference in [the next] budget."
Officials emphasized the resolutions do not enact any change in employee coverage. The commissioners said the borough has a limited enrollment timeline after acceptance (a 90-day window) and that staff expect at least one meeting with affected employees and the police bargaining unit to explain options. The board described possible enrollment windows beginning in October and another effective January 1, and pledged to preserve employees' existing contractual protections for the police department.
The council did not vote to enroll in CJHIF; rather, it approved the procedural steps required to apply so the borough can assess the fund and consult with employees and bargaining units if acceptance proceeds.
