Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Employee Benefits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County raises employee family dental contribution to $15, holds medical premium share at 11%
Summary
After discussion, the board voted to increase the employee monthly contribution for family dental coverage to $15 and to keep employee medical contributions at 11 percent; the dental vote recorded one dissenting supervisor.
Jenna Limerick, director of human resources, brought the Board of Supervisors an update on dental and medical premium rates ahead of open enrollment. Limerick said employees had paid $14.16 monthly for the family dental plan for more than six years and presented July 1 rate changes that will raise the family dental premium to $89.38 and the single dental premium to $27.20.
Limerick said 29 employees were on single dental coverage and 345 on family coverage, and she advised the board that carrier underwriting expects a sufficient participation rate. After discussion about fairness and preserving participation, a supervisor moved to increase the employee contribution on the family dental plan to $15 per month; another supervisor seconded. The motion passed on voice vote with one recorded dissent (meeting discussion recorded one supervisor as saying “I’m opposed”). The meeting record indicates the tally as four in favor, one opposed.
Limerick then confirmed the Wellmark medical premium rate increase (a small fee change tied to IGHCP fees) and sought direction on employee share. Supervisors said they preferred to hold the employee share at 11 percent for the current budget cycle. A motion to keep employee contributions for Wellmark medical at 11 percent passed on a voice vote with no opposition recorded.
Why it matters: the changes affect employee paycheck deductions and the county’s budget for health benefits; the board balanced limiting employee cost increases with underwriting and participation requirements.
Ending: human resources will finalize open enrollment materials with the updated dental contribution and the 11 percent medical employee share.
