No increase in county workers’ health insurance contribution

County workers will not likely see an increase in the price tag of their overall health insurance coverage this year, regardless of national developments of rising expenses.

District 6 Justice of the Peace Cecil Polk announced in February that county employees’ insurance plan experienced been renewed, with only a 3% boost in the price to the county as the workers’ employer.

“We came in with a projection of 8% but we acquired 3% as an alternative,” he stated in the course of the February meeting of the Union County Quorum Court. “It arrived out outstanding taking into consideration the national degree of health insurance coverage. And we did not go up on any of our employees’ wellness insurance coverage positive aspects failed to change.”

Polk defined in a comply with-up job interview that nationally, the price of wellbeing insurance amplified this calendar year by any where from 12 to 16%.

“Our statements had been so excellent from our workers and their households that the (coverage) company felt like that… we experienced a authentic great group,” Polk reported. “As you can convey to, we obtained a truly good renewal.”

Past yr, the county’s renewal level was 8-9%, Polk explained. However, initiatives applied to explain to county workers the advantages presented by means of their overall health insurance policy aided to lower claims this calendar year.

“We have a large amount of stuff about cessation items, wherever they talk to people about smoking cigarettes, and we talk to persons about obtaining preventative care, which saves us a good deal of funds… If you go get checked out and you’re not out of your pocket a dime to get a wellness checkup, that is a fairly superior gain,” Polk mentioned. “We have qualified folks to consider advantage of the wellness strategy and use it for preventative points.”

“We have received one of the richest wellbeing strategies all over,” he included. “It truly is fantastic, great rewards.”

The Quorum Court’s Public Company Committee, which Polk, who has been an coverage agent for 47 several years, chairs, negotiated the renewal in mid-February, Polk claimed. Cigna, the county’s overall health insurance plan provider, originally projected that the county’s price tag would boost by 8%. The renewal is successful April 1.

“We only obtained a 3% boost total, so we have been quite delighted,” Polk reiterated. “All the things stayed the same — all positive aspects remained the similar no modify in benefits, no alter in worker contributions. No improve.”

Other members of the Community Company Committee involve District 7 JP John Burson, District 5 JP Carolyn Jones and District 3 JP Greg Harrison. Polk also sits on the county’s finance committee.

“We are just incredibly proud of our employees and that the county did not have to go up on the staff or their families’ price simply because the statements were being so great,” Polk said. “We’ve bought a superior bunch of staff members… and we experienced a definitely good calendar year.”