City of Port Townsend considering healthcare coverage for councilmembers

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The city of Port Townsend is eyeing a plan to potentially provide basic health coverage for city councilmembers.

The proposed 2023 city budget includes $50,000 to cover potential healthcare costs, and the Port Townsend City Council met last Monday to discuss adding health coverage as an option for councilmembers.

If healthcare coverage for councilmembers is approved, it would make Port Townsend the only city, apart from Anacortes, to provide councilmembers with coverage when compared to similar-sized municipalities in the region such as Sequim, Gig Harbor, and Poulsbo.

While the healthcare measure was only up for discussion in the city council’s meeting last week, they could vote to approve it at a later date.

If approved, the measure would require at least four or more councilmembers to participate or the health coverage would be terminated. The coverage could also be cancelled if the city council decided to vote to terminate it.

According to city documents, the healthcare coverage wouldn’t include dental, vision, or services apart from medical and hospitalization coverage, and newly-elected officials would be allowed to join the coverage when they assume their positions.