Hingham seeks vote to fund 60% of employee health insurance
HINGHAM — The town plans to fund 60% of employee health insurance premiums this year, up from 50% in previous years, to help its employees handle rapidly rising health insurance costs. The plan needs voter approval at town meeting and has been favorably recommended by the select board.
The town meeting article would allow the town to transfer from available funds to the FY27 Group Insurance Budget enough money to pay for 60% of health insurance premiums for only fiscal year 2027. The town has not said how much money that would cost.
The article also approved transferring money from available funds to conduct a study on how the town should fund health insurance premiums in future years. Select board members said the study would assess different plans, funding sources and different ways of splitting the cost between the town and its employees. The select board also did not say how much money the study would cost.
Health insurance premiums for town employees are rising across the South Shore. Hingham’s rates for the Group Insurance Commission, the healthcare provider for town employees and retirees, grew by 7.1% between fiscal years 2026 and 2027, from $8.4 million to $9 million.
“If this helps to get our employees better healthcare, then 100% behind it,” Select Board Chair William Ramsey said of the town raising its contribution to 60%.
The study would be conducted by the personnel board, which is a volunteer board of private citizens “responsible for the administration of the Town’s Personnel By-law,” according to Hingham’s website.
“The one-year fix is a great solution for one year. If we can get a few more years along the way, the study is going to help us define what kind of plan might be good for the town,” Jack Manning, chair of the personnel board, said. “That information is going to be critical to us.”
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