question: do the WI Senators have State paid Health care?

[annm4peace]

My Uncle asked me this question. Do any of you DU know ?

[dragonlady]

1. Yes

Wisconsin provides state employees with several insurance benefits, including group health, life, and dental insurance. The benefits are administered by the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF). Eligible state employees are also automatically enrolled, upon employment, in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), which is a defined benefit plan, meaning that retirees are guaranteed a specified level of payments based on their final average salary, years of service, and job classification. The retirement plan is meant to supplement Social Security benefits and personal savings during retirement.

The health, life, and dental insurance benefits are offered to all eligible state employees. Eligible employees include state employees who are eligible to participate in WRS. Some benefits, such as health insurance, are available after one month of employment; some, such as life insurance, are available only after six months of employment. Several of the health plans include dental and vision coverage.

HEALTH INSURANCE

All state agencies, the state legislature, and the executive branch must participate in the state's health insurance program and provide health insurance coverage to employees. Public employers (i. e. , towns, local governments, municipalities, and their local agencies) may choose to participate.

Several health insurance plans are available to employees. The state contributes a certain amount towards the premium, depending on the plan the employee chooses. Employees may obtain coverage within one month after they start working, but the state contribution is not effective until six months after the employee begins participating in WRS.

Those eligible for health insurance include:

1. state employees participating in WRS;

2. elected state officials and members or employees of the legislature;

(see the rest of the article at http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/rpt/2009-R-0213.htm

According to Politifact (not my favorite source), legislators would have to pay more for their pensions and health care under the budget "repair" bill, like other state employees. However, as a union rep pointed out, bargaining rights don't apply to them, and they'll make the rules for themselves in the future.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/feb/24/jeff-fitzgerald/fitzgerald-wisconsin-legislaors-would-have-give-sa/

[sybylla]

2. I assume like in other jobs, you don't take it if the spouse's insurance is better.

But few have that anymore.