Branch County commissioners approve plan to ease employee health insurance costs

Don Reid, The Daily Reporter
·2 min read

Branch County Commissioners waived their rules Thursday to allow administrator Bud Norman to formally request a cheaper Simply Blue program addition to the county health insurance plan.

Norman
Norman

The plan will allow for higher deductibles from $250 to $8,000. Still, it could reduce annual premiums from $200 to $4,000 a year depending on single, or family coverage and the plan purchased.

Because of low deductibles, a "rich plan," and higher use in 2021, total county health premiums for the under 100 employees covered increased by $500,000 in 2020. Some individuals saw premium increases of 65%

Commissioners are considering using American Rescue Pan funds to subsidize employee costs this year. That decision is still open.

Norman received final requests to use $8.4 million ARPA money this week. Commissioners will set their priorities soon.

The administrator said general funds could not be used. That would violate the county's "hard cap" contributions adopted under state law. Only one union refused to go along with the new insurance program. He did not name it.

If Blue Cross/Blue Shield accepts adding the Simply Blue options, there will be a new open enrollment for three weeks in April.

Payroll deductions would begin in May, and coverage for those changing would switch in June. The changes and costs cannot be made retroactive.

The new optional plan is available to all employees. Norman said the county would continue to evaluate insurance coverage for 2023.

District Judge Brent Weigle and his administrator, Norman, and Sheriff John Pollack formed an insurance committee. Those departments were most impacted. The commission added Treasurer Steve Rutz to the group because of his prior expertise in insurance. Norman does not want more members, making it unwieldy.

The court and sheriff lost staff because of the increased health insurance cost, especially for low-paid Tier II new hires. The high health insurance cost also makes it challenging to fill vacant positions.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Reporter: Branch County approves plan to ease employee health insurance costs