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Chemung County legislature advances new employee health plan (PPO 4) and approves family-option amendment
Summary
After debate over part‑time elected officials’ benefits, the legislature voted to forward a resolution establishing new health insurance rates and adopt an amendment allowing part‑time elected officials a family plan option at the same 13% premium contribution as single‑rate employees.
The Chemung County Legislature heard a presentation from Chris Petros of Perry and Carroll and county staff on a proposed new health plan design (PPO 4) and then approved a motion to amend the proposal to allow part‑time elected officials to elect a family plan at the same 13% employee contribution rate offered to single‑rate employees. The main resolution establishing new health insurance rates effective Jan. 1, 2026 then carried.
Chris Petros described PPO 4 as a plan that increases the maximum out‑of‑pocket limit for employees while removing the deductible for inpatient and outpatient services, a change intended to improve cash‑flow predictability in a catastrophic event. He said the county’s overall health insurance trend has stabilized to roughly a 5–6% increase after recent years of higher claims.
Petros said PPO 4 raises the maximum out‑of‑pocket from $1,000 to $2,000 and increases office‑visit copays from $20 to $30. The plan sets fixed inpatient and outpatient cost amounts—$250 for inpatient hospitalization and $100 for outpatient visits—rather than applying coinsurance and deductible structures, which Petros said should reduce the immediate financial shock for employees who require hospitalization and subsequent follow‑up care.
Discussion focused on whether part‑time elected officials, including county legislators, would be permitted to elect a family plan under the new design. A legislator moved to amend the proposal to include a family plan option for part‑time elected officials at the same 13% of premium contribution required of single‑rate employees; the motion to amend passed on a voice vote. County staff noted the memo presented Sept. 3 was a recommendation and that a formal resolution must be drafted by the county attorney before it advances to the full legislature.
Officials also said that implementing PPO 4 for unionized employees will require collective‑bargaining negotiations. County staff said they are negotiating with five bargaining units and that the new plan design is currently intended for single‑rate employees and elected officials, with further negotiations to follow for union agreements.
On a voice vote, the legislature approved the amended resolution establishing health insurance rates effective Jan. 1, 2026. There were no recorded roll‑call tallies announced in the meeting record.
