County insurance is just too high

To the editor:

I’m writing this letter as a county highway department employee. My complaint is about the county’s insurance policies being offered.

Our rates have once again increased much more than our pay has increased. Our new plan increases premiums by $157 per pay check for employees and children. As I’m a single father, my total out-of-pocket premiums per paycheck will be $374, and bring-home pay will be just over $500. I have to choose the buy-up plan, which has co-pays, because of the expense of my daughter’s medications. On the base plan, I would not be able to afford her medication. This is for two 40-hour weeks. How am I expected to make house payments, utilities, food and living expenses on this?

I’ve been told the county commissioners claim this is cheap, but I don’t see any of them having to support a single parent family. One commissioner is a retired wealthy banker, one is a banker and the other is the owner of his own construction company. My total gross taxable wages for 2016, which are public record, were approximately $21,000 after insurance is taken out. That is working 40 hours per week during summer months and six to seven days per week in the winter. This includes being called out during storms and in the middle of the night for downed trees and signs. Our county commissioners make as much or more meeting only twice per month. Rather than shopping around for insurance plans, they pay a company, who is not only making money off of Jay County government but also from the insurance companies, to find insurance for us. I feel that the commissioners should take the time to search for a competitive plan or consult with other entities, rather than pay the added expense of an outside firm who does not have the best interest of the county in mind.

I feel the money spent for this endeavor would be better spent on the employee’s premiums. The City of Portland recently signed a contract that will result in $531,000 in savings. With the number of employees that the county has, I cannot believe that we cannot obtain a similar policy.

I am now at the point that I am going to have to choose; do my children and I go homeless so that I can feed them or do we starve so I can keep a roof over their heads. If I were to rent, my cost would be even more.

I cannot get any government assistance because I was told that I make too much. My only other option is to find another job. The only problem is, I would be leaving the highway department shorthanded, as we are already down two drivers.

I do not wish to leave the highway department, as I enjoy providing this valuable service to the citizens of Jay County. Something needs to be done about the insurance, otherwise the citizens of Jay County will see further decaying roadways. This is just one employee’s view on the matter, but I’m sure I am not alone.

Sincerely,

Donald Corn

Portland