Scotland County approves renewal of employee health plan as commissioners warn of rising costs

The Scotland County Board of Commissioners voted to pursue renewal of the county's Blue Options HD employee health plan after county staff presented projected premium increases and network risks tied to lower-cost options.

Commissioners and staff spent an extended portion of the meeting debating a staff recommendation that reflects a 25% renewal increase from the current plan and the trade-offs of switching to a lower-cost or self-funded option. "We currently have 327," a benefits staff member said when asked how many employees participate in county coverage, referring to plan enrollment. County staff also reviewed a current baseline figure on the benefits chart of $2,800,000 and warned that some columns on the renewal chart represent additional costs that must be added to that baseline.

The nut graf: The renewal affects the county's operating budget and could change employee out-of-pocket exposure if commissioners choose to require employee…