Delta County adopts "hard cap" insurance option and approves Teamsters LOA to avoid 30-day coverage gaps

Delta County commissioners on Oct. 14 approved a resolution adopting a "hard cap" insurance option and approved a letter of agreement (LOA) with the Teamsters to eliminate a 30-day coverage gap for members who transfer between union and nonunion status.

The administrator explained the county has historically chosen a hard cap — rather than an 80/20 plan — because the hard cap "is the 1 option we have in which we can allow the employees to have a $0 plan. So, if any employee does not want to have a premium for insurance, the hard cap allows us to give them a plan and give them insurance at no cost to themselves." The administrator said the county reviews insurance reports with its insurance committee and considers cost-effectiveness between plan options.

A commissioner asked about the financial difference between an 80/20 plan and the hard cap; the administrator said she did not have the report at the meeting but that, historically, percentage increases follow similar patterns and differences have not been large.

On a separate personnel-related item, the administrator said conversations with Tony LaPlante, the Teamsters representative, and Teamsters insurance staff revealed that employees moving between union and nonunion units face a 30-day window without coverage unless an LOA is adopted. The county drafted an LOA to delete the gap for transfers and will also develop a county policy for employees moving out of the bargaining unit. Commissioners adopted the LOA so the affected deputy director of dispatch could be insured immediately.

Both the hard cap resolution and the Teamsters LOA were approved by voice/roll-call votes.