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San Juan County commissioners approve new employee health plan, set March 1 start and higher HSA contributions
Summary
The commission voted to adopt a new Anthem/MassMutual‑brokered health plan that moves eligible employees onto Medicare supplemental coverage for elected and eligible employees, funds an enhanced health savings account contribution, and sets an effective enrollment target of March 1.
San Juan County commissioners voted to adopt a new group health plan and enrollment strategy during the Feb. 1 meeting. The board instructed staff to implement a March 1 effective date and to increase the county health‑savings‑account (HSA) contribution to $250 per month for eligible employees.
County staff and the broker reviewed plan features: a higher family deductible than the county’s prior plan but lower out‑of‑network maximums and improved prescription coverage. Under the new arrangement, the county will continue to subsidize the employee share and offered a 70 percent county contribution option for family coverage; commissioners selected the 70 percent contribution for health coverage while keeping dental and vision at employee‑only coverage levels.
The plan also creates a Special Enrollment pathway to help staff age into Medicare Parts A and B and a Medicare supplemental prescription plan. Commissioners asked employees to create SSA.gov accounts and to complete ID verification to facilitate Part B enrollment. Staff said the county will reimburse employees for early Medicare Part B premiums charged before Social Security benefit payments begin.
Commissioners asked that staff and the broker provide one‑on‑one assistance to employees who need help with ID.me/SSA enrollment. The motion to adopt the plan passed unanimously in the meeting.
Ending: County staff will work with the broker to finalize paperwork, confirm employee special‑enrollment letters, and begin March 1 enrollments for those who complete the verification and forms.
