Board to discuss $250,000 increase in employee insurance
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[March 15, 2013]
Wednesday was a night of
important discussion for the Logan County Board Insurance Committee.
The primary topic was the renewal of employee health insurance with
Health Alliance, or the potential change to a different provider. A
dozen guests were in attendance as the committee deliberated.
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The committee had a special meeting at the courthouse Feb. 26 to
explain the insurance situation to county employees. A 35 percent
potential increase in premiums would cost the county an extra
$250,000 a year. County board members are looking for other options
to provide insurance.
Employees were given a second survey to complete in February. Pam
Meagher told the committee members that 73 people completed the
survey and that most of the results would indicate the employees do
not want to see an increase in the amount they pay out-of-pocket for
coverage.
Meagher also said that most of the employee responses favored
switching to Blue Cross Blue Shield instead of continuing to be
covered by Health Alliance.
On another note, the idea of a stipend provided for employees to
purchase their own insurance, while supported by several county
workers, would not be cost-effective for the county. Such a policy
may come up again next year with the advent of the Affordable Care
Act.
Meagher and insurance chairman Jan Schumacher put together a list
of suggested plans for the county board to look over. The list
contained a number of choices from both Health Alliance and Blue
Cross Blue Shield. Meagher said she could understand why the
employees may want Blue Cross, as their out-of-pocket costs would be
lower.
Andy Anderson said he wanted to see the county continue to offer
three levels of coverage to the employees.
Meagher agreed. "Some people are more comfortable having doctor
visit copay and can't handle the thought of a large deductible, and
other people would rather not pay anything out-of-pocket," she said.
Meagher suggested that in order to help employees with a high
deductible, the county could put money into a health savings plan
for the employees who choose such coverage.
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The decision at hand for the committee came down to which company
they think would be a better choice for the employees: Blue Cross or
Health Alliance.
Dave Hepler said there are really two decisions to be made: which
company to go with in providing coverage, and how much the county is
willing to spend to aid the employees.
Nancy Schaub and Jodi Dacer said that both companies offer
extensive medical management to help those employees who would
require expensive treatments. In those cases, money would be
gathered by the companies from outside sources to help pay for the
high costs.
As the discussion began to wind down, the committee decided to
bring the discussion to the whole county board this month. The
specifics of the motion were to discuss the possibility of switching
to Blue Cross Blue Shield with three levels of coverage and a $50
savings per commitment for employees with a high deductible.
Furthermore, the county share in this plan would be $475 (this would
be higher than the current plans, in which the county pays $463).
Committee members present were Jan Schumacher, chairman; Chuck
Ruben; Andy Anderson; Bill Martin; and David Hepler. Insurance
administrator Pam Meagher, Nancy Schaub of R.W. Garret Agency and
Jodi Dacer of Health Alliance were also present.
The county board could vote on the matter when it meets Tuesday
at 7 p.m. at the Logan County Courthouse.
[By DEREK HURLEY] |