Caledonia Argus

County's health insurance costs will increase in 2003

Posted: 11/6/02

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

Health insurance for county employees will increase by almost 20 percent in 2003. That means that the total premium for the year, including the portion paid by employees, is $990,972. If the number of employees who take the insurance and the the plans they choose were to stay the same for 2003, the countyís share of the cost would be $789,828.

The county contributes $354 towards the cost a single premium and for family coverage, contributes another $190. Eligible employees may choose from three levels of coverage from Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Minnesota. The preferred gold plan with a $15 co-pay increased $88.50 per month to $926. There are currently 14 employees who have this option. The single premium increased from $320 to $353.50.

The premium for a $250 deductible family coverage plan increased more than 20 percent, from $724.50 per month to $879. There are 16 employees on that plan at the present time. Single coverage for that plan increased from $276 to $335. Currently, 21 employees are on that plan.

The highest increase came in the plan with the highest deductible. Rates for the $1,000 deductible plan went from $570.50 to $703.50 for families and for singles the rate went from $219 to $270.

Some single premiums are less than the county contribution, and those employees may select other benefits to make up the difference.

Costs for insurance are ìkilling everybody,î commented County Board Chair Kevin Kelleher, adding that the county is doing what it can to keep costs down.

ìItís bad, but not as bad as we thought,î commented Commissioner David Corcoran.

Personnel director Tim Comstock suggested to the commissioners that the county offer long-term care insurance for employees. The employee pays the entire cost of the insurance, but itís still a benefit because employees can purchase the insurance at a group rate.

In other business from the October 22 meeting, the county board approved the new budget for the countyís sentence to service program. The total cost for the program for the fiscal year 2004, which starts July 1, 2003, will be $65,800.

In a related matter, for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, Sentence to Service crews provided 1,920 hours of labor valued at $9,600 ($5 per hour). Of the hours provided, 688 hours were provided to the DNR, 1,216 to the county and 16 hours to the school district. Jail inmates completed 584 hours of service during the quarter.

There were 32 adults and 27 juveniles who worked in the program in the third quarter of the year.

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