Branch County commissioners approve plan to ease employee health insurance costs
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Department County Commissioners waived their principles Thursday to enable administrator Bud Norman to formally request a much less expensive Only Blue program addition to the county well being insurance policies strategy.
The strategy will enable for greater deductibles from $250 to $8,000. Nonetheless, it could cut down once-a-year premiums from $200 to $4,000 a 12 months based on single, or household protection and the plan procured.
Because of reduced deductibles, a “rich program,” and greater use in 2021, complete county health rates for the underneath 100 personnel protected enhanced by $500,000 in 2020. Some folks observed high quality improves of 65%
Commissioners are considering applying American Rescue Pan cash to subsidize employee costs this yr. That selection is continue to open up.
Norman obtained last requests to use $8.4 million ARPA money this 7 days. Commissioners will set their priorities shortly.
The administrator claimed normal funds could not be made use of. That would violate the county’s “really hard cap” contributions adopted underneath state regulation. Only a person union refused to go along with the new insurance software. He did not name it.
If Blue Cross/Blue Shield accepts adding the Basically Blue selections, there will be a new open up enrollment for a few months in April.
Payroll deductions would commence in May well, and coverage for all those modifying would switch in June. The changes and charges are unable to be produced retroactive.
The new optional plan is accessible to all employees. Norman claimed the county would keep on to consider insurance coverage coverage for 2023.
District Choose Brent Weigle and his administrator, Norman, and Sheriff John Pollack formed an coverage committee. People departments were being most impacted. The fee added Treasurer Steve Rutz to the group due to the fact of his prior skills in insurance policy. Norman does not want a lot more members, creating it unwieldy.
The court docket and sheriff misplaced team since of the enhanced wellness insurance policies value, specifically for very low-paid Tier II new hires. The high wellbeing insurance policy expense also helps make it tough to fill vacant positions.
This report at first appeared on The Day-to-day Reporter: Department County approves strategy to simplicity employee health and fitness insurance policy costs
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