Investigative reporting by NJ Advance Media, notably in the special report “Part-time officials, full-time perks,” has revealed that at least a dozen municipalities have provided questionable health coverage to ineligible elected officials, costing New Jersey taxpayers tens of millions of dollars each year. This is shocking abuse by those who are supposed to be stewards of the public’s money, not takers of it.
As elected officials, our primary responsibility is to advocate for our neighbors and implement policies that benefit the public, not further our own interests. It’s disturbing to witness a violation of the public trust when municipal officials plead guilty to health care fraud for illegally accepting benefits. Across New Jersey, countless elected officials are skirting a 2010 law that prohibits them from taking health benefits they shouldn’t receive — and that has to stop.
Despite this law, local and county officials continue to disregard the rules limiting eligibility for coverage through the State Health Benefits Program. The law clearly stipulates that only those who work at least 35 hours a week can qualify for taxpayer-funded health insurance. Yet, a troubling loophole exists for private insurance plans, allowing elected officials to exploit the system at the expense of hard-working taxpayers. Additionally, no real teeth exist for enforcement because the Pension Fraud and Abuse Unit (PFAU), which was established by executive order in 2013 to prevent and investigate cases of fraud, has not been codified in the 2010 law.
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