Maintenance of Medical Benefits. The Employer agrees not to reduce the current level of medical plan benefits coverage, and not to increase co-payments, deductibles, co-insurance or out of pocket maximums, during the term of this Agreement. The Employer retains the right to change insurance carriers, network provider panels, preferred providers, third party payers, and all other administrative elements throughout the course of this Agreement as a means to control costs and services to the medical plans. The Employer reserves the ability to change its prescription drug program (including co-pays), seeking to better promote generics over branded drugs and optimize use of mail order programs.
Maintenance of Medical Benefits. The City will maintain medical benefits for all currently covered employees during unpaid leave for up to three months, beginning from the time employees would otherwise lose benefits because of their unpaid-leave status and ending after three months’ benefits or until the termination of the March 3 Mayoral Proclamation, whichever is sooner. In the event of a medical claim funding shortfall during this time, NB and NC Health Care Subfund funds can be used immediately to cover costs for the respective populations. Monthly employee- and employer-paid premium contributions for these employees will be paid immediately from Health Care Fund rate stabilization reserves, commonly referred to as NB and NC, for the respective Health Care Coalition and non-Health Care Coalition member populations. These benefits would run concurrently with any benefits provided under Personnel Rule 7.1.3(D) during unpaid Family Medical Leave.
