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EBR Metro Council defers vote on health insurance cost increases for city-parish employees
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BATON ROUGE — The East Baton Rouge Metro Council has postponed a decision on proposed health insurance premium increases for city-parish employees.
The price hikes, proposed as part of the city-parish benefits plan for 2027, have drawn sharp pushback from first responders' unions. However, time is running short to reach an agreement, as the plan must be finalized ahead of its January 1, 2027 rollout.
Union leaders tell WBRZ that employees for the city-parish could see their health insurance premiums rise by roughly 20% in 2027 if it's passed, but say they are working with EBR Mayor-President Sid Edwards to make it as affordable as possible.
"So the proposed increase is one of the largest we've ever seen in recent history. We asked to be part of the conversation earlier in the year. We were not," Baton Rouge Firefighters Association President Jake Morgan said.
Edwards said his administration has spent months developing the 2027 benefits package and that multiple versions have been drafted. He noted to WBRZ that he rejected the initial proposal.
A special Metro Council meeting was originally scheduled last month to review a second draft, but sources told WBRZ the Mayor's office was not yet prepared to move forward with it.
"We went to work for the second proposal; we then brought in the unions for them to be a part of it. Sunday, I got to see proposal two. I didn't quite like it, so I went back to the drawing board, reduced it again, and it was set for tonight," Edwards said.
Under the latest proposal, city-parish employees could choose between multiple medical plan options, including a Community Blue Health Management Organization (HMO) or a Precision Blue HMO.
"We have two new plans in the health stuff, and both are narrow networks; one is mainly with the Baton Rouge General, one's with Our Lady of the Lake, and other organizations. If employees were to pick one of those two, they would have a reduction in the cost of their health insurance," Edwards said.
By selecting one of these two narrow-network options, employees would keep their current deductibles of $500 for individuals and $1,500 for families. If employees choose to remain on their existing plans instead, annual deductibles would rise by $400 for individuals and $1,200 for families.
Union leaders acknowledged that while proposed rates have come down from initial estimates, they are pushing for further reductions.
"For a one-year increase, I would like to see something like in the single digits versus like 10 or above. I know we haven't had an increase in a couple of years," EMS Local Union President Jeremy Landry said.
Edwards insisted his team has squeezed out as much savings as possible.
"We've only increased premiums in the parish five times in the last 15 years. Two, I think, in the last 10, and it's brought us to this," Edwards said.
According to Edwards, failing to adjust rates now would risk completely depleting parish insurance reserves by next year.
With the Metro Council agreeing to defer the vote, Edwards said the delay will give him time to continue discussions with the council and unions while giving employees a chance to better understand the proposed options before January 1.
"What we're trying to accomplish with that is making sure that everybody is completely educated on it, because especially in the last 48 hours, what we've gotten is people just don't understand the plan," Edwards said.
Edwards added that health insurance costs were set to rise regardless of the employee pay raises approved earlier this year, dismissing claims that higher premiums are being used to fund police pay increases as entirely false.
"There are shortfalls. I mean, budgets are tight in Baton Rouge right now, so when budgets get tight then you gotta find money, so that's what the problem is," Morgan said. "There is savings there, and some of our firefighters will have options because their spouses have insurance, so it could go either way," he added.
A summary of the key changes to the 2027 benefits plan can be found here.
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