Lamar County approves $200 monthly supplement for qualifying retired military and updates handbook

The Lamar County Commission on during its regular session approved a $200-per-month supplement to help employees who are retired military and have TRICARE with costs related to Medicare coverage.

Presiding Commissioner (Speaker 1) read the amendment: "if the employee is retired military with TRICARE coverage a sick and 65 years or older, the county will provide a $200 per month supplement to help with the cost of Medicare coverage." The amendment also specifies that an employee who takes the supplement would not be eligible for the county’s Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage.

Commissioner (Speaker 3) said the change is largely administrative and described the county’s current billing position, adding the arrangement was effectively a cost tradeoff for the county’s coverage. The commission voted by voice to approve the supplement after a motion from Commissioner (Speaker 3) and a second.

Alongside the benefit change, the commission approved an amendment to chapter 13 of the county’s employee handbook so the supplement language is included and other qualifying employees may opt to take the benefit in the future. The handbook amendment was moved and approved by voice vote.

The motions carried by voice votes; the meeting record does not include a roll-call tally. The commission flagged cybersecurity and administrative follow-up for related employee records and enrollment processing.

The commission did not identify individual employees by name in the public record; eligibility is limited to employees described in the amendment.