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Linn County approves Blue Cross renewal with employee contributions, commissioners adopt stop‑loss change
Summary
The Linn County commission approved a Blue Cross Blue Shield renewal with a $100,000 stop‑loss and implementation of employee premium contributions (employee only $25 with incentive; employee + children $75; employee + spouse $100; family $125 when using the county incentive). Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the renewal and associated contribution schedule.
After an extended staff briefing and discussion about alternative carriers and stop‑loss levels, the Linn County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the county's Blue Cross Blue Shield renewal with a $100,000 stop‑loss and to implement employee buy‑in rates tied to the county incentive program.
Staff presented three options including staying with Blue Cross Blue Shield (with a $100,000 stop‑loss option) and an alternate Allied/Everlong arrangement. Commissioners and staff discussed differences in premium cost, stop‑loss exposure and employee cost‑sharing. County staff described the county's existing employee incentive (the "trifold") that reduces employee premiums for those who complete the incentive; Rose Mohler (deputy county clerk) clarified that employees who complete the incentive currently pay nothing for employee-only coverage.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the Blue Cross and Blue Shield renewal with the $100,000 stop‑loss and an employee contribution schedule that (as moved) sets the cost for employees who participate in the county incentive at: employee only $25; employee with children $75; employee with spouse $100; family $125. The motion specified higher amounts if the incentive is not used (employee only $75; children $125; spouse $150; family $175). The motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The change shifts some premium cost to employees (depending on incentive participation) and increases the county's near‑term insurance budget obligations compared with remaining at the prior stop‑loss level; staff said switching to an Allied/Everlong option showed different cost and service tradeoffs but the commission favored staying with Blue Cross for continuity and to limit service disruption.
Next steps: Staff will notify employees of the chosen renewal, the new contribution schedule, and assist with enrollment and incentive materials ahead of open enrollment.
