NJ Public Employee Healthcare Affordability Campaign Intensifies
NJ Public Workers are facing an affordability crisis with healthcare costs. Every single CWA member is impacted directly or indirectly by the skyrocketing cost of medical and prescription insurance.
As part of finalizing the state budget for FY2026, Governor Murphy imposed a $100 million cut to SHBP starting in January. This move takes healthcare outside our collective bargaining agreement and could force cost shifting onto our members through higher copays, deductibles, coinsurances, and benefit reductions.
On top of the $100M imposed by Governor Murphy in the 2026 budget, on July 10 the State announced staggering anticipated premiums increases for both State Workers and Local Government workers. SHBP premiums for NJ State Workers will increase another 19.7% starting in January 2026. For Local Government workers in the State Health Benefits Plan, premiums are anticipated to increase a staggering 37% for January 2026.
Repeat - Healthcare premiums are due to increase for Local Government employees by 112% and for State employees by 80% since 2021!
When the State says the system is broken - we disagree. What's broken is the State's management of the plan and it's view that it's ok to choose insurance companies over public employees and taxpayers.
CWA State Worker Town Hall
 Wednesday, July 167PM on ZoomRegister Now |
Media Coverage
NJ Spotlight ran a story featuring Billy Gallagher, CWA District 1 Assistant to the Vice President, on the projected healthcare increases for the State Health Benefits Plan for 2026.