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Jurors review insurance renewals; Blue Cross proposes 18% health-premium increase
Summary
Insurance broker Richie Gregory told jurors Blue Cross proposed an 18% increase for parish health coverage effective Sept. 1; Guardian proposed a steep dental increase that could be mitigated by moving voluntary worksite products or switching dental to MetLife with no increase.
Richie Gregory, representing Gregory Agency/Hub International, presented employee-group insurance renewal options to the Cameron Parish Police Jury, saying the health plan renewal effective Sept. 1 included an 18% premium increase from Blue Cross driven by higher claims.
"Just to clarify, in the last 12 months, you all paid Blue Cross $3,500,000 in premium. Bad news is they paid out $4,400,000 in claims," Gregory said to explain the proposed 18% increase. He outlined options to absorb cost increases by changing deductibles or to explore alternate carriers; he added that Aetna and UnitedHealthcare declined to quote based on the parish's claims history. On dental, Gregory said Guardian initially sought a 32% increase, reduced to 25% and potentially to 20% if the parish moves voluntary worksite products to Guardian; MetLife was presented as a no-increase alternative for dental.
Jurors discussed whether the parish should accept the increase and whether the employer should absorb deductible costs for employees as a show of appreciation; staff advised motions should specify whether jurors accept the 18% increase and which carrier choices they prefer so the action is part of the public record.
