Rates remain steady

For the third year in a row, county employees could see the same rates for health insurance in 2017.
Jennifer Heckman, a benefit specialist with Platinum Benefit Consulting Group, told Jay County Commissioners on Monday the county’s current provider, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, has agreed to keep rates steady next year.
It’s the second consecutive year that Anthem has agreed to a rate hold. The county started using the provider in 2015.
Currently, single employees pay $56.70 monthly for health and life insurance premiums and those with families covered pay $901.96. These costs are after the county chips in $525.
Heckman told commissioners Faron Parr, Jim Zimmerman and Doug Inman that Anthem has also agreed to include a refund agreement to the county’s plan for the upcoming year. She explained that if the county has fewer claims next year, the agreement would allow the county to share in a possible surplus.
While Anthem has agreed to keep cost the same, Heckman told commissioners that Physicians Health Plan came in with a more competitive offer.
The county used Physicians Health Plan prior to switching to Anthem.
However, Heckman told commissioners during her presentation that Anthem offers a broader network and deeper discounts than Physicians Health Plan.
Additionally, Heckman said she has asked Anthem to consider providing relief on the current rates for next year and is waiting on the underwriter to get back to her on an answer.
Commissioners were also informed that the county’s current dental insurance provider, Lincoln Financial Group, has agreed to a rate hold as well for next year.
Eye coverage rates will also remain the same.
Both eye and dental insurance are optional for county employees. The county does not chip in toward either coverage.
In other business, commissioners:
•Approved a modified claim for lawyer fees for the retirement center.
•Appointed Jane Kessler to Dunkirk Public Library Board.
•Heard from James Truppi of 1728 W. 900 South about trucks speeding down his road. Truppi said his house is located off of a stone road, and trucks are kicking up dirt and rocks, causing damage to his home. Commissioners relayed Truppi’s concerns to highway superintendent Ken Wellman, who said he would check out the issue.
•With Wellman, opened three bids for a new county truck. The bids included quotes of $101,900, $100,658 and $104,252 from J.X. Peterbilt, Stoops of Fort Wayne and Kenworth respectively. Commissioners accepted the bids, and asked Wellman to review them before a decision is made.
•OK’d engineering firm Butler, Fairman and Suefert to proceed working with Earth Exploration on an agreement to complete soil borings at the site of a proposed detention plan the firm presented to commissioners in July. John Speidel of BF&S told commissioners that Earth Exploration said the cost to complete 20 soil borings is not to exceed $14,000. He said that was a “worst case” figure and expects it to be lower.
He also told commissioners that the draft proposal the firm presented in July will be modified because part of the proposed water storage area encompasses wetlands.
•Approved a new resident for the retirement center, which is now at 26 residents.