eligibility date mav subsequently only do so during the annual open enrallment period or fallowina
a “qualifying event”.
The option of the health care plan is at the sole discretion of the Citv. It is agreed bv all parties
concerned that the City reserves and shail have the right to chanae_ insurance carriers provided
the benefits to participants are comparable and the Citv elects the least expensive pian available
to provide such benefits.
Should the Citv determine that it is in the best interests of the City to offer a “comparable” plan to
either option “a” or “b". it shall provide at least one hundred twenty (120) days prior written notice
to the Union and documentation of the cost to members and the benefits that will be provided
under the comparable plan. Should the Union determine that_the proposed plan is not
comparable, the arievance shall not be subject to the grievance procedure {Article 12). and shall
be submitted directly for arbitration no later than thirty (30) davs after the Union is notified of the
proposed change to the comparable plan. The arievance shall be heard in an expedited manner.
The decision of the arbitrator shall be bindina_on both parties.
For the purnoses of this article, a “comparable” plan means:_a comparable plan means one that offers
the same type of benefits. but benefits do not have to be exactly the same. In addition, the plan must
provide reasonable access to health services and physicians. includina specialists and hospitals.
SPOUSE RULE: Employees who are married to another member of the citv who also subscribes
to a plan will be subject to this rule. The rule requires that an eligible member whose spouse Is
covered by another City Health Plan elect the policy under which the eligible member and spouse
shall receive health care benefits. An eligible member and spouse shall not be entitled to receive
benefits under separate health care plans.
ENROLLMENT: Current employees who want to change their carrier or to subscribe to another
program can only do so during an annual “open enrollment” period or as otherwise provided.
ANNUAL AUDIT: The City of Nashua hereby aarees to conduct a yearly loss ratio analysis of all
Haalth Insurance plans offered to employees and return all employee overpayments in the form
of a Health Insurance Premium Holiday at the completion of the analvsis.
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