PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County employees are just learning about a major change to their medical insurance.
Nearly 6,000 workers are just finding out about the major change to their medical insurance.
When the county raised property taxes a couple of years ago, the county manager said they promised to look at ways to cut costs.
He says this move is all part of that.
But as of Friday, some county employees are just learning about the change that begins in August, and are pushing back.
11 Investigates has learned that employees who work for Allegheny County soon will not be allowed to include spouses on their county health insurance if those spouses are employed by a company that offers insurance.
The spouses would have to enroll in their companies’ medical coverage.
Chief Investigator Rick Earle spoke with Allegheny County Manager John Fournier about the change.
Fournier called it a cost-cutting move, and he defended the overall benefits package.
“Some benefits are getting better, and this benefit we are managing spouses a little differently, but overall, the benefits county employees get are exceptional,” said Fournier.
Some county employees, speaking on the condition of anonymity, were just finding out about it. They told 11 Investigates that they fear it will now cost them more for health insurance.
One employee sent an email to 11 Investigates voicing opposition to the change.
“Sara Innamorato fights for 18 weeks of paid parental leave. However, married couples in Allegheny County are being forced to double their health benefits by using both spouses’ companies in the middle of the year!!!!”
It also comes at a time when some County Council members are pushing to get health care benefits, open district offices and hire staff.
Earle: It looks like you’re pulling health insurance from employees and rewarding Council members?
Fournier: I have no comment on what Council is doing. That’s Council’s own business. I only worry about my side of the shop.
Fournier also said out-of-pocket healthcare expenses have decreased, and the county has offered other benefits to unions, like critical incident leave pay, hazard pay for 911 operators and artificial intelligence protections.
Several big unions have already signed off on the change, including SEIU Local 668, which represents approximately 1,000 county workers.
“Would they rather not have had the spousal limitation in the agreement? Of course. But they felt for what they were getting out of this deal, the vast majority of our members voted in favor,” said Steve Catanese, President of SEIU Local 668.
11 Investigates has learned there’s no change for dependents.
They can remain on the county health plan, and spouses can use the county plan as a secondary insurance.
Not all unions have signed off on the plan as of yet.
The county is negotiating with individual unions as the contracts come up for renewal.
Fournier said he’s hoping to have all unions under the plan by January of 2027.
The change for non-union employees is set to begin in a month.
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