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County employees and unions press commissioners for clearer information on transition from state health benefits
Summary
CWA and other union representatives said county employees lack timely, complete information about a June 1 transition from the State Health Benefits Program to county-selected vendors; county staff said plan documents are posted online and webinars are scheduled.
Union leaders told the board the county's recent decision to exit the State Health Benefits Program and move employees to county-selected carriers has caused confusion for workers and their families.
Jaren Steiner, president of CWA Local 1014, said the March 20 resolution to change health carriers came with little notice and that members continue to report providers falling out of network and missing premium information. "We have to do better," Steiner said during public comment, asking the county to provide complete plan documents so employees can make informed choices before the change scheduled for June 1.
County staff responded in the meeting record that plan documents had been posted online and provided to counsel, that the county is hosting webinars and recording sessions to answer questions, and that retiree benefits will be administered through a contractor described in the record as Retiree First working with UnitedHealthcare. County staff said benefit cards for retirees and other details will be mailed before June 1.
Steiner said he and members remain concerned about network continuity and premium impacts and asked for more complete and timely information. County staff said they are making documents available and scheduled additional question-and-answer sessions.
No formal action or vote on benefits was taken during the meeting; several contracts related to benefits were on the agenda and were described in the meeting record as having been passed earlier in the session.
