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County says Medicare supplement premium rising; retirees billed higher rate beginning April 1 enrollments
Summary
County staff reported that changes from Bay Bridge Administrators to the county's Hartford Medicare supplement plan produce an increase of just under $100 monthly; the county supplements half of each retiree premium and will notify approaching enrollees. About 45 retirees use the supplement.
County staff told the Commissioners Court on May 12 that a Medicare supplement plan provided through Bay Bridge Administrators and the Hartford Medical Plan will incur a price increase for new enrollees because the current supplement is no longer available to new enrollees due to legislative changes.
A county staff member explained: the total monthly premium will increase by just under $100. The county supplements retirees’ portion of that Medicare supplement by 50 percent. Staff said anyone added to the supplement plan from April 1 going forward will be billed the higher premium, and the county will send a notice to current retirees who are nearing the age to enroll. The office reported that about 45 retirees currently use the Medicare supplement and that one retiree who enrolled in April is affected.
The court took the report and recorded the item as received. No vote to change county policy or subsidy levels was taken at the meeting; the action recorded was receipt of the renewal and notice of the premium change.
Discussion versus decision: staff presented the policy change and implementation steps (notice to retirees); the court did not change the county subsidy percentage at this meeting. The retiree-count figure and the April-enrollee impact were provided by staff and recorded in the minutes.
