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Supervisors approve change to employee health plan to limit county cost increase
Summary
Facing double-digit premium pressures, supervisors approved switching to a higher-deductible health plan option to limit the county's premium increase to roughly 1%; board members noted tradeoffs for employees and set an April 1 implementation deadline.
Westmoreland County supervisors approved a change to the county’s employee health insurance plan aimed at limiting the county’s premium increase.
County staff reported local premium estimates had climbed as much as 12–15 percent and recommended moving from a $100 deductible plan to a $250 deductible Key Advantage plan; staff said the change would limit the county’s cost increase to about 1 percent. A committee member moved to adopt the administration’s recommendation; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.
Why it matters: supervisors said the change would lessen a sharp increase in county spending on premiums but acknowledged employees would pay somewhat more out-of-pocket when seeking care. One supervisor warned that an insurance-driven pay squeeze can reduce take-home pay despite small salary adjustments.
The board set the effective timing to meet vendor deadlines (staff said the change must be in place by April 1) and approved the plan change at the meeting. Staff will complete plan enrollment changes consistent with the vendor schedule.
