Insurance bargain still sought (12/13/04)

Jay County Commissioners waded through a dizzying flurry of health insurance options today, trying to find a plan that will keep costs in line while still protecting county employees.

Faced with a big potential increase in premium expense from the current carrier, UnitedHealthcare, the commissioners were shopping with a variety of companies in search of the best deal.

Currently, the county is paying $446 per month for single-person coverage from UnitedHealthcare. But if no changes are made, that would jump to $573.39 per month in 2005.

Commissioners heard two proposals by mid-morning today and had three more scheduled later in the day.

Sorting through options, they focused on several different variables which have an impact on monthly premiums:

• Deductible levels. Currently the county’s coverage calls for a $1,000 deductible within the preferred provider network.

• Out-of-pocket expense limits, which reflect the maximum personal liability for employees.

• Co-insurance rates. Currently, the county’s coverage has the insurance company paying 80 percent of expenses in network and the employee paying 20 percent. By changing the co-insurance to 50-50 in network, it may actually be possible to lower out-of-pocket limits.

• The difference between in network and out of network coverage.

Both Anthem, represented by Inman Insurance of Portland, and MMA, represented by Sheri Tomac of Berne, presented quotes today which would keep costs to the county about where they are today.

MMA quoted a number of different options, some of which were lower than the current UnitedHealthcare rate. Anthem quoted several options as well, focusing on two which came in about $474 to $479, not including life insurance coverage.

“That’s a firm quote,” said Kevin Inman of Inman Insurance.

“These are firm rates?” Commissioner Gary Theurer asked the MMA representative.

“They are,” said Tomac.

Tomac suggested the commissioners center their decision on the total out-of-pocket exposure for employees. “I try to keep the out-of-pocket low because I know people don’t have money put away for that,” she said.

Her firm, based in Goshen, carries coverage for Wells County employees and has worked with local government units for three years.

Anthem, based in Indianapolis, is the largest health insurance carrier in the state. “One out of three Hoosiers has Anthem coverage,” said representative Dave Watts.

Both companies said they could make the transition quickly if the commissioners act soon.

“We could do (enrollment of employees) this week,” said Inman.

“If you make a decision today or tomorrow, we could make the change Jan. 1,” said Tomac.

In other business, the commissioners met with Rick Planalp of Warehouse Outlet in Hartford City, who is interested in the possibility of leasing the front portion of the former Ford garage on West Main Street. The county acquired the property to provide flexibility if expansion of the county jail is required. Hanni Plumbing leases the south section of the building.

Planalp was going to examine the building today.

Acting as the county drainage board, commissioners agreed to pay $1,168.20 to cover the cost of tile for work done in Penn Township in 1998 on the W.B. Chaney Watershed. The work was done by Jim Rhoton of Blackford County, and there has been confusion since 1998 as to who authorized it.

Drainage board policy calls for the county to pay for the tile in such a case, with the landowner paying for the installation.

The board also heard from Bob Kunkle about drainage concerns north of county road 200 South between roads 600 and 800 East.

County surveyor Brad Daniels said cleaning out the ditch would be put on the list of work to be done. “We’ve been slowed up this fall” by wet weather, he said.[[In-content Ad]]