 At that time, two insurance plans were proposed. Option A with a
high deductible of $7,500 offers copays. This plan would appeal to
healthy people. Option B with no deductible offers copays and was
seen as the optimal choice for people with ongoing medical issues.
On Tuesday, the county committee met one more time with the
employees' insurance advisory committee and as a result decided to
include a third choice.
On Wednesday evening, the first motion at the adjourned session
of the board was to propose that the board add Option C to the other
two proposed Health Alliance plans. Option C would offer employees a
new mix with a $5,000 deductible and no copays.
Board members wrangled with every aspect of the proposed costs,
which included concern for fairness to nonunion employees. Bob
Farmer, board chairman, urged postponing the decision until it could
be looked at further.
Committee chairman Jan Schumacher said it was a difference of
philosophies between board members, and waiting would do no good;
the board should just move forward.
Motion 1 came forward:
Employees will be offered Health Alliance plan options A, B and
C.
Voting:
Yes: Anderson,
Aylesworth, Bateman, Meister, O'Neill, Rohlfs
No: Hepler,
Martin, Ruben, Schumacher, Farmer
Passed 6-5.
Next to decide was what the board would pay for the plans.
Motion 2:
The county would pay between $427
and $463.
Plans A and C are $427 per month per employee. Option B would be
$463 per month per employee.
Voting:
Yes: Schumacher,
Farmer, Anderson, Aylesworth, Bateman, O'Neill, Rohlfs, Ruben
No: Hepler,
Martin, Meister
Passed 8-3.
Schumacher identified that the impact to the general fund would
depend on what plan employees would choose, but this would mean an
increase of $27,000 to $47,000 over what is being paid out now.
Option A for employees: Health Alliance PPO plan
-
Individual
deductible: $7,500
-
Copays for doctor
visit: $20 for primary doctor, $40 for specialist
-
Copay for emergency
room $175
-
Copays for
prescriptions: $20, $40, $50
-
Individual
out-of-pocket maximum: $7,500 (plus copayments and coinsurance
payments that do not apply to the plan year out-of-pocket
maximum)
[to top of second column] |
Option B for employees: Health Alliance POS-C plan
-
No deductible
-
Copays for doctor
visit: $20 for primary doctor, $40 for specialist
-
Copay for emergency
room: $175
-
Copays for
prescriptions: $20, $40, $50
-
Copay for inpatient
hospitalization, outpatient surgery and procedures: $2,000 plus
30 percent coinsurance
-
Copay for MRIs and
CTs: $1,000 plus 30 percent coinsurance
-
Individual
out-of-pocket: $3,000 (plus copayments and coinsurance payments
that do not apply to the plan year out-of-pocket maximum)
Option C for employees: Health Alliance
Nothing further was said on Wednesday about the concerns the
state's attorney's office had about the competitive bidding process
or the potential conflict of interest of a county board member.
Terry Carlton was absent for the evening.
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
 |
