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Bonner County ambulance staff push for PPO plan; board considers removing HSA, scheduling special meeting
Summary
Board members and staff discussed shifting ambulance district employees off the HSA plan to a PPO (Blue Cross Blue Shield/Delta/VSP), citing premium reductions and potential retention benefits; staff aims to present full details at a special meeting next week and target a Feb. 1 implementation if approved.
Bonner County Ambulance Service District staff told the board Dec. 3 they are evaluating a switch from a high‑deductible HSA plan to a PPO (identified as Blue Cross Blue Shield with Delta and VSP) that would reduce premiums and could allow the district to fully cover employee‑only premiums. Staff said informal sampling of employees indicated the change would be acceptable if it produced better benefits without excessive cost to employees.
Staff presented preliminary cost comparisons and said removing the HSA could lower overall premiums; they cited potential savings and said covering employee‑only premiums is standard in the industry and helps with retention. An employee who spoke during public comment said the proposed change could restore ‘‘over $400 a month’’ to that worker’s take‑home pay.
Board members asked about implementation timing, COBRA impacts and authorized signers; staff said the district’s stop‑loss timing gives an opportunity to change mid‑year and that formal legal review would be required. Staff indicated leaders hope to put the plan on a special meeting agenda next week and, if approved, to aim for a Feb. 1 start while maintaining October open‑enrollment cycles thereafter.
The discussion also covered related HR work: drafting a district employee handbook and an MOU to define services and administrative responsibilities between the county and the ambulance district. Staff emphasized the need to finish insurance and legal reviews before finalizing any policy changes and to include HR representation in the next meeting so commissioners can see metrics in advance.
