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Vendor pitches low-cost short-term disability plan for Hand County employees
Summary
A Colonial Life representative proposed a county-wide short-term disability plan that would provide a baseline benefit of $400 a month and a guaranteed-issue voluntary buy-up, with the county paying a modest share; commissioners asked follow-up questions and said they would review the proposal at future budget meetings.
Steve Melnick, a Colonial Life representative, presented a short-term group disability plan to the Hand County Board of Commissioners during the meeting. He described a guaranteed-issue short-term disability product with a baseline benefit the company would administer and a voluntary employee buy-up option.
Melnick said the baseline plan would cost roughly $7.09 per employee per month for workers aged 18–49, with higher brackets for older age groups. The baseline benefit he described is $400 per month (about $100 per week), with a 0–3 month benefit window and a 14-day elimination period for illness. He said employees could voluntarily purchase higher benefit amounts — “up to 10 times the amount” in his example — without medical underwriting.
The presenter described the county’s share as a relatively small per-employee contribution. “We figured out, in my head, about around $5,000 per year for about 50 employees,” Melnick said, and characterized the county portion at roughly “a hundred dollars per man per year” averaged across the workforce. He listed common exclusions (intoxication and illegal activity) and said a physician’s certification would be required for most claims.
Why it matters: Commissioners discussed the plan’s cost and administration as part of broader employee-benefit planning and budget conversations. Melnick and commissioners agreed the board could discuss enrollment timing and whether to adopt a baseline county contribution during upcoming budget meetings.
Discussion details: Commissioners asked how payouts would be calculated for short absences and whether documentation requirements would include standard licensed practitioners. Melnick said payouts could be arranged on a weekly or daily basis depending on the benefit level purchased and verified via a licensed practitioner. He said the product aims to be a low-cost way to introduce a disability benefit to employees and allow employees to elect additional voluntary coverage later.
Next steps: Melnick asked to return later in the budget process; the board did not take immediate action and directed staff to consider the proposal with other benefits and budget items.
