Woods County commissioners allow Colonial Life to meet with employees about voluntary benefits; no final cafeteria‑plan decision

Woods County commissioners voted to allow Colonial Life representatives to speak directly with county employees about voluntary benefits and enrollment options, but did not make a final decision on which vendor will serve as the county's primary cafeteria‑plan (Section 125) administrator.

The request came from Thole Nichols of Colonial Life, who identified himself as the company’s district manager for much of Oklahoma, and Crystal Jones, whom Nichols described as his area manager. Nichols told the commissioners Colonial Life offers voluntary products such as accident, cancer, short‑term disability and hospital indemnity, a benefits‑education program and an online enrollment portal that can also handle enrollment for dental, vision and major medical. “We educate employees,” Nichols said. He added his office provides a staffed benefits‑administration team to assist the county’s payroll/benefits…