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Panel hears bill to let long‑serving county constitutional officers keep health insurance until 65
Summary
A committee hearing on HB 868 considered a narrow proposal letting constitutional officers with at least 16 years in office and aged 55–65 continue county health coverage until Medicare, funded by a successor's lower base salary so counties would not increase their budgets, proponents say. ACCG opposed the bill as not revenue neutral and risky for county plans.
Chairman Lumsden introduced House Bill 868 and supporters, including Kevin Payne, Floyd County tax commissioner, described it as a narrowly targeted, revenue‑neutral option for certain long‑serving constitutional officers to keep county health insurance until they reach Medicare eligibility.
"It's very limited in scope and very difficult to apply for," Kevin Payne said as he explained the bill's eligibility requirements: at least 16 years of service and an age between 55 and 65. Payne described the financing mechanism: the county would allocate the difference between the retiring officer's final salary and the successor's base salary toward the retiree's insurance, which, he said, keeps the county…
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