Gov. Phil Murphy said on Thursday that he didn’t want the big hike in health insurance premiums for public employees to “become an annual event,” and that last-minute measures to ease the pain for some of these workers a little. We called the move ‘fair dealing’.”

The New Jersey Board of Health on Wednesday approved an increase in health insurance rates for more than 800,000 government workers. The vote calls for an increase in state health insurance premiums by about 21% and local government premiums by about 24%.

After a vote by the State Health Benefits Board on Wednesday, five unions released a joint statement revealing they had reached a deal with the Murphy administration. This would limit the increase in state employee contributions to her 3% and shift the rest of the financial burden to the state government. state.

As part of the compromise, state employee professional copayments will double from $15 to $30, and emergency care copayments will increase from $15 to $45.

Responding to questions from reporters on Thursday, Murphy said reaching an agreement with unions representing state employees was not easy, but that “all parties felt this was…a fair deal.” Stated.

This agreement does not apply to local governments, which can pay 70% of the total premium for employee health insurance. And if local governments don’t find ways to mitigate the increased costs, New Jersey taxpayers could end up feeling the pain.

Murphy said on Thursday he looked forward to working with local governments and union leaders representing local employees, but said his administration would need help finding a solution. Added wax.

“I don’t want to go through this again. I want to do everything I can,” Murphy said at another event in Newark. and need other partners willing to provide relief.”

Murphy said the surge in demand and rising costs for health care services after the pandemic was to blame, and reiterated that this was a nationwide problem, not unique to New Jersey.

But the magnitude of the rate hike is about three to four times higher than average rate hikes in other states, and union leaders have repeatedly asked the administration to explain why New Jersey is so anomalous. .

Republican Senate Majority Leader Stephen Orojo (R-Sussex, R-Sussex) and Senate Republican Budget Officer Declan Osscanlon (R-Monmouth) announced Thursday the Murphy administration’s “secret” move to raise premiums. condemned and bailed out only state workers.

In a statement, Republicans said they were “disturbed that they bailed out state employees without first identifying their actual savings.” “And it is hard to believe that they are ignoring property taxpayers and local employees, including police and firefighters who have worked and suffered enough throughout COVID-19.”

Murphy said on Thursday, “There’s no doubt this is sticker shock. It’s painful.” And his administration is ready to work with stakeholders to find long-term solutions.

“We don’t want this to be an annual event. We want to find a solution that has a lasting component and we are confident that it will work out over time,” Murphy said. “We look forward to working with other parties to try to find something in the future with our local employees.”

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Derek Hall can reach dhall@njadvancemedia.comfollow him on twitter @ Derek Hall.