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Board sticks with current health plan, approves employee wellness screenings and updates return‑to‑work policy
Summary
After market outreach found limited options, supervisors decided to remain with the current Wellmark self‑funded plans, approved wellness screenings during open enrollment, and adopted expanded occupational health and return‑to‑work handbook policies; staff will work on a multi‑year funding strategy for the health‑insurance fund.
Bremer County supervisors reviewed health‑insurance renewal options and directed staff to continue with the current Wellmark plans for the coming fiscal year while pursuing a multi‑year strategy to shore up the health‑insurance fund.
County staff said market outreach produced few viable alternatives: some carriers declined to quote, and pooled/fully funded options would require larger upfront premiums that would erode the county’s insurance fund balance and shift more costs to employees. "We're in a very comfortable space as far as our stop gap level," one staff member said, but cautioned the current program is not sustainable without long‑range planning.
The board voted to offer wellness screenings during the employee open‑enrollment period in May; staff said screenings have been run alongside open enrollment in prior years and cited participation of about 65 employees, spouses and dependents last year. The screenings will be paid from the health‑insurance fund and are intended to support prevention and early detection efforts.
Separately, supervisors approved revised handbook policies (4.7 Occupational Health Program and 5.17 Workers' Compensation return‑to‑work) using IMWCA template language to formalize modified‑duty procedures and reporting channels. The policies clarify steps when an employee is injured and outline temporary/modified work expectations.
Board also approved naming Palestrini and Bulman Eye Care as the county’s designated provider for occupational eye injuries to streamline emergency follow‑up and documentation; staff said the designation is intended to simplify immediate access when specialized care is required.
Staff will prepare renewal paperwork, continue exploring pool/stop‑loss options and present a multi‑year funding proposal during the budget process.
