SB297

Risk pools provide insurance services; the subject matter expert in state government for insurance matters is the Insurance Commissioner and his staff. There is no practical or logical reason to have risk pools overseen by the Secretary of State's Office. The Legislature continually prides itself on New Hampshire's lean and efficient government structure; the current oversight of risk pools is anything but that. The Committee is encouraged to transfer oversight to the Insurance Department which has reasonable, logical and measurable standards by which insurance providers must operate. The current oversight structure is subjective, clearly lacks any realistic understanding of claims variances and long-term trends and unfortunately is driven more by the political agenda of staff.

If passed, even if there were an amendment that doesn't require communities to create reserves, this bill will still cause more local tax dollars resulting in an increase in property taxes. I am the Town Administrator of Hillsborough, and as a smaller employer who currently does business with HealthTrust, a company who offers us a wonderful health insurance product at an affordable price, this will hit us hard. We currently don't have to worry about covering additional costs during the year, however this bill would require us to pay unpredictable amounts (a tax increase), On top of that, HealthTrust has given us an advanced notice that they will stop offering health insurance if this passes. In spite of what the SOS office says about them discontinuing offering this insurance, it IS legal for them to do because they still have other products they offer. They did not vote to dissolve, just discontinue a product. If the Town of Hillsborough has to go out to the private market for health insurance, we will most definitely pay more for a lower quality plan. That's IF we can find a reputable insurance company to cover so few employees. Dave Lang of the SOS office has had a longstanding and well known prejudice against HealthTrust, and when I asked the SOS office to send me copies of spreadsheets that back up their claim that HealthTrust has wasted millions of our dollars, they sent links to documents that date back to the days of the Local Government Center (LGC) which is extremely outdated. For those who are not familiar with what happened during that time and why LGC ceased to exist, Dave Lang a driver of that as well. Please don't allow legislation to be used in that manner once again by him. I ask that you please vote this bill down for the sake of local tax payers. This is bad legislation from beginning to end. In my 25+ years of municipal experience, I have found that HealthTrust has and continues to be an amazing company for municipalities, especially smaller ones who benefit from their structure and products. If they are no longer available to us for health insurance, that would be a negative impact to the municipal employees and local taxpayers in many communities. Thank you for reading my testimony and taking it into consideration, I appreciate it.

Dear Members of the House Commerce Committee, I am writing to express my strong opposition to HB297 as currently written. While I understand and respect the concerns raised by the Secretary of State, I urge the Committee to work towards a compromise that protects the negotiated insurance benefits of public employees and retirees—benefits that were bargained for in good faith. Following the announcement by Health Trust that it would cease operations if HB297 became law in its current form, significant concern has arisen among public employees and the communities we serve. This move would have widespread and disruptive effects on school districts and municipalities, depending on their insurance renewal dates. There has been ongoing debate between the Secretary of State and Health Trust regarding the efficacy and consequences of the bill. These differing assessments highlight the need for thoughtful dialogue and balanced solutions—not a rushed or unilateral decision that jeopardizes employee benefits. As NEA-NH President Megan Tuttle stated in her recent communication to members: “We believe our elected officials must work towards a compromise that ensures that Health Trust provides the insurance benefits for which our members bargained while addressing the concerns expressed by the Secretary of State which are the basis for the bill.” I respectfully urge you to reject HB297 in its current form and instead engage in a collaborative process to protect both the interests of public employees and the integrity of state oversight. Thank you for your time and service. Sincerely, Erik Murphy

I oppose SB 297 as written. This bill needs more time and research and collaboration with the risk pools before it is changed. Please kill this bill. Thank you.

This bill would do significant damage to the Health Trust organization and would prevent the trust from offering health insurance to thousands of public employees in the state of New Hampshire. The oversight of Health Trust should be moved to the Department of Insurance.

Why is the State of New Hampshire working against our municipalities by trying to eliminate benefits necessary to employ valuable staff members? This effort runs counter to the core value of this State. Stop trying to make local government more difficult. The people of this state deserve better.

Another attack on public employees

NHSBA is in opposition to this bill.

As the bill is writtten, I am concerned about the security of insurance for public service citizens and public service citizen retirees. Please work towards a compromise that ensures that all risk pool programs for public employees and retirees provide the insurance benefits for which members bargained while addressing the concerns expressed by the Secretary of State which are the basis for the bill. Thank you,

This bill will destroy the good health insurance they have.

I have watched with interest and fascination as the Secretary of State has engaged in a battle with HealthTrust over the potential impact of this bill on HealthTrust and its ability to remain viable if this bill were to become law. HealthTrust has very patiently and very thoroughly described WHY this bill as written would have a severe negative impact on their operations, and has clearly detailed HOW it was negatively impact consumers and municipalities in the state. The Secretary of State has provided nothing to back it's assertion that HealthTrust is engaging in 'scare tactics' or making 'irrational decisions'. All the Secretary of State has done is issue letters that are inflammatory, inaccurate, and without evidence or information. This bill is a solution in search of a problem. At the very least, I implore you to consider support amending the bill so that the Department of Insurance becomes the regulator of risk management programs - but ideally, the entire bill should be deemed ITL at this time.

Please come to a workable consensus that our risk pool programs for public employees and retirees ( I am a retiree) provide insurance benefits which our members bargained for and hope the parties involved can also address the concerns of the Secretary of State in this compromise. I depend on my healthcare and have been very pleased with it for many years.

The rush for this bill is concerning and I would support the formation of a study committee to review the matter.

This bill would create a great financial and administrative strain on our already strained municipality.

Self-funded pooled risk management programs should be regulated by the Insurance Department and not the Secretary of State. This bill should be killed to allow for new legislation to be developed that would change the regulatory framework of such pools.

Greetings, I am writing to this committee to request that they not support SB297. If this bill passes, it will have a significant impact on many towns and cities. First and foremost, towns and cities currently enrolled in Healthrust for insurance will need to scramble to find comparable coverage for their employees should Healthrust no longer supply coverage. Once comparable insurance is found, the cost could potentially be higher than what is currently budgeted. This would have a profound effect on many of the smaller towns that are already struggling to keep taxes manageable for their residents, of which all of you are members. I would suggest that this bill be studied for a year, allowing the state and risk pools to develop an agreeable plan that will give towns ample time to regroup and find coverage for their employees.

Dear Honorable Members of the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee, The Town of Boscawen is reaching out to you regarding our concern about the local tax implications of New Hampshire Senate Bill 297. Boscawen is a participating member of HealthTrust, a municipal risk pool, which serves as a mechanism for managing risk, ensuring financial stability, and providing affordable coverage options for municipalities and public entities across New Hampshire. This has been the most affordable insurance choice for our small, rural community. HealthTrust provides coverage for our town employees and retirees. We are concerned that the enactment of New Hampshire Senate Bill 297 would impose significant and unrealistic financial and administrative burdens on our risk pool, HealthTrust, and on members, including small municipalities like the Town of Boscawen. The amount of money our town spends on insurance with HealthTrust represents nearly 12% of our budget, covering over three dozen employees. Without HealthTrust, this expenditure will likely double. We are concerned that due to the vague and subjective standards expressed in SB297, we could encounter unexpected mid-year assessments which could disrupt municipal budgeting, and threaten long-term financial planning, possibly triggering the need for a Special Town Meeting to raise and appropriate additional tax monies to cover the unexpected additional expenses. We are unclear about the new oversight and administrative costs introduced in Senate Bill 297 which could further strain our local budget. Also unclear are the mandates for new contingency reserve requirements that could cause sudden and significant rate increases after Town Meeting, creating volatility and undermining the predictability that towns and cities require for responsible fiscal planning. HealthTrust not only provides towns like ours with affordable, predictably priced insurance, but also administrative assistance, without which we would need an additional part-time employee. But most troubling of all to the Town of Boscawen is learning that HealthTrust has indicated that it would cease operating if this legislation were approved, putting our municipal employees' health care in jeopardy and potentially costing our taxpayers significantly more in the future. The Selectboard of Boscawen expresses its strong opposition to New Hampshire Senate Bill 297, as it is currently drafted and that the Town of Boscawen urges the New Hampshire General Court and Governor to amend Senate Bill 297, so the Department of Insurance becomes the regulator of risk management programs. We appreciate our elected representatives working collaboratively with municipalities and risk pool administrators to support financially sound and administratively feasible approaches to oversight and risk management. Lorrie J. Carey Town of Boscawen Select Board

This bill would be disastrous for all municipal employees in NH who rely on Health Trust for medical insurance. Why are we picking on these companies that are doing a great job keeping our insurance rates down. This bill has so many unintended consequences and I am totally opposed to it.

I am not in favor of this bill as Town Administrator of Newbury NH. Health Care costs have risen to levels that are unattainable for most. The Health Pools have enough money to cover large costs if there is a need. Placing this burden on towns where budgets are already getting streamlined is not going to improve the situation. We have to think of the residents and taxpayers of our communities first and carefully look at all spending. Towns have enough to worry about financially from roads, buildings, and long term capital improvements to have more added expenditures that are already being taken care of. Thank you.

This bill could raise rates for health care and end it altogether for some people who use HealthTrust. Don't pass it.

Changes regulation of nonprofit public sector insurance that will raise municipalities and their members’ health care costs.

Senate Bill 297 seems like an overreach of State Government and impacts the right of cities and towns to participate in a risk pool should the elect to do so.

I am asking you to reject this bill, which appears to serve special interests at the expense of the people of New Hampshire. SB 297 will shift unlimited financial risk to the taxpayers based on unfounded arguments relative to pooled risk management programs. As we all face budgetary concerns and make difficult decisions to reduce our spending and avoid taxing our residents out of the state, this bill will shift additional costs to the tax base. Please vote against SB 297. Thank you. Devin R. Wilkie, Assistant Mayor, City of Lebanon.

As an employee of the Town of Boscawen, I receive great benefits from Health Trust and an affordable health care premium. SB 297 will have new costs and mandates for towns, which will make costs rise substantially. This will not be good for Health Trust or any of the schools and municipalities that they serve. Our benefits are affordable and amazing. The staff at Health Trust are available around the clock and do a fantastic job for our employees and all who subscribe. Please vote no to SB 297. Thank you, Kellee Jo Easler, DIrector Town of Boscawen Planning & Community Development

My name is Katie Phelps, and I am the Town Administrator for the Town of Boscawen. Boscawen is a participating member of HealthTrust, a municipal risk pool, which serves as a mechanism for managing risk, ensuring financial stability, and providing affordable coverage options for municipalities and public entities across New Hampshire. This has been the most affordable insurance choice for our small, rural community. HealthTrust provides coverage for our town employees and retirees. I am concerned that the enactment of New Hampshire Senate Bill 297 would impose significant and unrealistic financial and administrative burdens on our risk pool and on members. The amount of money our town spends on insurance with HealthTrust represents nearly 12% of our budget, covering over three dozen employees. I am concerned that due to the vague and subjective standards expressed in SB297, we could encounter unexpected mid-year assessments which could disrupt municipal budgeting, and threaten long-term financial planning, possibly triggering the need for a Special Town Meeting to raise and appropriate additional tax monies to cover the unexpected additional expenses. I am unclear about the new oversight and administrative costs introduced in Senate Bill 297 which could further strain our local budget. Also unclear are the mandates for new contingency reserve requirements that could cause sudden and significant rate increases after Town Meeting, creating volatility and undermining the predictability that towns and cities require for responsible fiscal planning. HealthTrust not only provides towns like ours with affordable, predictably priced insurance, but also administrative assistance, without which we would need an additional part-time employee. The most troubling of all to the Town of Boscawen is learning that HealthTrust has indicated that it would cease operating if this legislation were approved, putting our municipal employees' health care in jeopardy and potentially costing our taxpayers significantly more in the future. I would like to express my opposition to New Hampshire Senate Bill 297, as it is currently drafted. I urge that the New Hampshire General Court and Governor amend Senate Bill 297, so the Department of Insurance becomes the regulator of risk management programs. I appreciate our elected representatives working collaboratively with municipalities and risk pool administrators to support financially sound and administratively feasible approaches to oversight and risk management.