Baltimore approves health insurance rate increase for city employees over protests from labor unions

Baltimore’s Board of Estimates approved an increase Wednesday in health insurance rates for city employees, citing coronavirus-related effects on health care spending, over protests from labor unions. The vote was 3-2, with Comptroller Bill Henry and City Council President Nick Mosby dissenting. As a result, employee and retiree premiums will increase 3.6% over last year’s, said Quinton Herbert, interim director for the city’s department of human resources. The premiums will go into effect at the beginning of 2022.