County advised to keep carrier

County employees will pay the same rate for health insurance in 2016 as they did this year, if the county commissioners follow a consultant’s recommendation.
Commissioners Jim Zimmerman and Doug Inman, absent Faron Parr, also met Monday morning with Blackford County officials as a joint drainage board to discuss potential work on a tile that crosses from Jay County into Blackford County.
Single employees currently pay $56.70 monthly for health and life insurance, while employees whose families are covered pay $901.96. These premiums are after the county pays $525.
Jennifer Heckman, a benefit specialist with Platinum Benefit Consulting Group, told the commissioners she recommends the county stick with Anthem for another year, after three years of having a different carrier each year.
“Carriers look at that and wonder why you’re jumping ship all the time, but it really hasn’t been our choice,” Heckman said.
For several years, the county has found a better offer and switched companies. This time, the current carrier is still the best option for next year, in Heckman’s opinion.
Medical rates with Anthem increased by 10 percent, while the pharmacy rate, a smaller portion of the cost, decreased by 30 percent. The net result is a premium that stays the same.
Heckman also recommended staying with Lincoln Financial Group for dental coverage. The cost would go up 6 percent from the current monthly rates of $32.82 for individuals and $114.02 for families.
Switching to dental care through Principal Financial Group would save employees about $4 per month, Heckman said, adding, “I don’t know that it’s worth having another carrier.”
As county attorney Lon Racster pointed out, “continuity of coverage is worth something.”
With Parr absent, the commissioners chose to postpone a vote until next week, but Zimmerman told Heckman they would likely follow her recommendations.
Eye coverage is locked in for several more years, auditor Anna Culy said. The current costs are $5.90 and $17.36.
The county does not contribute toward eye and dental coverage, which are optional.
A 24-inch tile that originates in Jay County and crosses into Blackford County south of Indiana 18 needs repairs on the Blackford County portion. Zimmerman, Inman and county surveyor Brad Daniels discussed the project with Fred Walker and Harry Pearson, two of Blackford County’s three drainage board members, and Paul Shriver, Blackford County surveyor.
About 2,900 feet of tile would be replaced, Daniels said. Though that’s all on the Blackford County side, Jay County is involved because the tile carries water away from it as well.
Blackford County has been doing yearly repairs on the tile, and the costs have been low enough that the drainage boards didn’t meet jointly. Jay County’s portion hasn’t required much work, Daniels said.
For the first time since 1999, the joint board met to begin discussing this project, which is estimated to cost about $53,000 based on tile costing around $18 per foot.
The joint board will gather more information and meet again at 9 a.m. Nov. 23 during Jay County’s regular drainage board meeting at the courthouse. Property owners who would be affected will be notified.
In other business, the commissioners:
•Approved two new residents at the retirement center. Assistant director Tammy Davis said another potential resident will be ready to move in soon, which would bring the total to 21.