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Resident raises concern that county health‑plan benefits are not being administered as presented to employees
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Summary
A Kingsley resident and county employee spouse asked the board to review health‑plan administration after in‑network physical therapy and chiropractic care were applied to the deductible rather than a stated $25 copay; she requested full plan documents and placement of the issue on a future agenda if discrepancies persist.
During the public‑comment period, Becca Socknot of Kingsley said she is both the spouse of a county employee and has spent weeks trying to get clarity from HR and the plan administrator about how certain benefits are being administered.
"The benefits being applied do not match what was presented to the board," Socknot said. She told the board that physical‑therapy and chiropractic services were presented in November as carrying a $25 in‑network copay, but in practice those services are being applied to the deductible with coinsurance after, creating unexpected out‑of‑pocket costs for families.
Socknot said she has requested the full insurance plan document (not just the summary of benefits) and has not received it despite multiple requests; she asked the board for an immediate review comparing the plan as implemented to what was presented in November and for full plan documents to be made accessible to employees.
Chair acknowledged the request and said staff had reached out to Wellmark and that the board was waiting on clarification; he also said an email thread indicated some supervisors had been left off earlier correspondence and that staff would follow up directly with HR to ensure documents are shared.
The board did not take immediate formal action during the meeting but indicated staff follow up was in progress and requested that, if necessary after review, the item be placed on a future agenda for corrective action.
