Monday, February 13, 2012

Are Ross Twp taxpayers footing the Health Insurance bill for Commissioner Mikec's 3 "grown children"?

Well, I had to dust off the old blog for this one.  There was just too much information to cover and it would not all fit on the Facebook page!


I received an email the other day (after my lengthy post on Facebook about spreading the word) that questioned whether or not Commissioner Mikec still had his adult children covered by his Ross Township (taxpayer funded) Health Insurance.


So I set out today to do some digging and see what I could find.  While I don't have a definitive answer, you can draw your own conclusions with the information I have collected.


Let us first look at the costs associated with the Commissioner's Health Insurance.  Let's look at the 2011 figures as I am still waiting for the 2012 figures to arrive from a Right To Know request.


2011 Health Care Costs


Commissioners                 Monthly Total                   Yearly Total
Demarco, Daniel               $627.71                              $7,532.52
Eyster, Chris                       $1,488.43                           $17,861.16
(2)Ferraro, Peter               $12.90                                $154.80
(1)Kinross, Daniel              $1,656.97                           $19,883.64
(1)Mazur, Lana                   $1,488.43                          $17,861.16
Mikec, David                      $1,891.14                           $22,693.68
Montgomery, Grant         $1,891.14                           $22,693.68
(1)O’Brien, Gerald            $627.71                              $7,532.52
Stanko, Grace                    $1,656.97                           $19,883.64
Trustee's Fee                     $3.00                                   $36.00
Total                                    $11,344.40                         $136,132.80
(1)Repays 5% of their Health Care to Township
(2)Has his own Health Coverage
Commissioner Kinross 5% total per year portion is $917.23
Commissioner O’Brien 5% total per year potion is $343.04
Commissioner Mazur 5% total per year portion is $816.11

Notice that Commissioner Mikec's monthly cost (and that is what it costs the taxpayers, not what is costs him!) is one of the highest amounts on the list.  Commissioner Montgomery was also costing taxpayers $1819.14 a month for his families health insurance, but he has children legitimately under the age of 18.

Commissioner DeMarco's monthly cost for single coverage was $627.71 a month in 2011.  You can see how the various other Commissioners stack up with costs.

So why would Commissioner Mikec be one of the most expensive Health Insurance costs.  He has 3 grown children so why would he continue the more expensive family coverage? Oh and how do I know he has 3 GROWN children, well his wife says so in THIS article from the North Hills Patch.

"......said Mikec, whose three grown children attended St. Athanasius through grade eight."

So what's the big deal you wonder...especially since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in March 2010 allows health insurance providers to cover adult children up to the age of 27.  Well the big deal is that WE ARE PAYING FOR IT!

While I can understand providing coverage for an adult child that does not have another option, the person that emailed me said that Mikec's 3 grown children have jobs that would have a health insurance option.  Problem is, they would probably be expected to CONTRIBUTE to their health insurance and that would take money out of THEIR pockets.  If they stay on Commissioner Mikec's health insurance policy, it doesn't cost them a cent....but IT COSTS US! Also note, for 2011 Commissioner Mikec contributed NOTHING to his Health Insurance.  He let us, the taxpayers, pay for it all for himself, his wife, and his grown children!  

An Ordinance was passed in April 2012 requiring a mandatory 5% contribution from Commissioners. While it went into play for Commissioners that just started new terms in 2012, it will not affect Commissioner Mikec until 2014. Even when Commissioner Mikec is required to contribute 5%, it pales in comparison to what his children would more than likely have to contribute in their private sector jobs.

So now that I have gathered all the info into this blog post, you can draw your own conclusions. 


In my eyes, that is one heck of a perk for a part-time public service job!

13 comments:

  1. 3 grown children just means they aren't in high school anymore. What if those children are still in college? Do they not count?

    Granted I think it is crazy that they get healthcare coverage.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I heard that Dave Mikec's son that is a recent college graduate chose to stay on the Township's insurance rather than take insurance through his new company.

    Can anyone prove that or provide information? I can't believe that Dave would let that happen. It looks so bad if true.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I wonder who is covering Mazur's GROWN children?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I went to high school with him. He was a trouble making piece of crap. I'm sure the whole family is on her benefits since they own there own car shop.

      Delete
  4. Why were we paying so much for Kinross. He's divorced with no kids even close to under 18?????

    ReplyDelete
  5. It amazes me that the FEW commisioners who own there own businesses seem to cost the Township the most. Must be a nice perk to avoid having to buy your own insurance if you own your own business in the Township.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Access to health insurance is a reasonable benefit, why begrudge them? I don't understand the pettiness in this arguement. I guess none of you all republicans have health insurance, so it irks you that anyone should have it? I truly do not understand this hatred on the Right for health care benefits. It's bizarre.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It is not a reasonable benefit...They are part time workers...they have other jobs to cover there costs. They are just USING THE TAXPAYERS to benefit themselves. I pay for my own healthcare through our employer. We use money we earn not piggy backing the taxpayers. You can only take so much before the well runs dry. By the way I am a D and ashamed to be called one. We pay them more in health care then they make as a part time worker.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Aren't they allowed to be on it until they turn 26? It's disgusting, but legal

    ReplyDelete
  9. Why are all the comments signed "anonymous"?
    Why is everyone afraid to sign their "real name"?
    "Haters" (as Marty Griffin calls you) and cockroaches like to hide in the dark (or this case behind a computer keyboard).
    I agree with the above comment about not begrudging them
    health insurance. You "haters" need to get a life!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Not the first time this has happened in Ross Township: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uxkhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=91cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6428,2574929&dq=mark+purcell+ross+township+medical&hl=en

    Read more about Mark Purcell here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Real-Mark-Purcell/309925765734092

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
  12. The Internet was a much better place before random advertisements started to be mixed in with the comments.....

    I don't think they will get much business from here since we are in PA and this is a business in CA. Perhaps it's time to look into a new internet marketing platform...preferably one that targets your key audience in CA and not across the country.

    ReplyDelete