Two more cities are dropping out of the state’s health insurance plan. Trenton and Newark are now joining Camden in the exodus, saying the recent 23% rate hike has made the plan unaffordable for their budgets. The rate hike has prompted criticism of the Murphy administration, which avoided any rate hikes over the last several years before approving the increase.
“Last year, as a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, we were never told that there was going to be a 22.8% rate increase in the state health benefits plan. We should’ve been prepared that there was going to be some increase when the private sector had a seven-percent increase each and every year,” said Sen. Michael Testa (R-Cumberland). Testa said he now fears that smaller towns could face even higher rates.
