Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Employee Benefits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County presenters say employee health coverage can continue with no Blue Cross rate increase; board schedules follow-up
Summary
Presenters for the county's employee health plan told supervisors that Blue Cross rate holds remain in place and that the county's bridge plan reduces employee deductibles while preserving benefits; the board asked presenters to return June 15 for final renewal steps.
Bill Morris, the county's insurance broker, and senior account manager Alaina Moss presented the county's employee health renewal options and asked the Claiborne County Board of Supervisors to proceed with renewal preparations ahead of August open enrollment. They said Blue Cross of Mississippi has held rates for the county in recent years and that the bridge plan currently administered by the county reduces the individual deductible to $500 and provides 80% coinsurance. Morris and Moss said the bridge plan also provides dental, vision and a $50,000 basic life benefit for employees. Moss said the plan shows 89 employees on employee-only coverage and one family plan on the current roster.
Moss said the county's previous life insurer, Sun Life, proposed an initial 32% renewal increase this year; she said negotiations reduced that to a 20% renewal rate. Morris said the bridge program has generated periodic reimbursements to the county over prior years, and he asked the board to authorize the renewal steps so open enrollment can proceed.
The board asked the presenters to return for a brief follow-up at the June 15 meeting to finalize details before August enrollment. Earlier in the meeting the board had also voted to allow an external benefits broker (William Sanford) to provide quotes to the county during the enrollment period.
The board took no immediate final contract vote at this meeting; the presenters were asked to return with any final paperwork and to answer follow-up questions about employee counts and plan details.
