Commissioners approve health care plan for 2010

LIMA — Health insurance rates for Allen County employees will remain nearly the same in 2010 as they were this year. Employees won’t be getting the same bang for their buck, however.

Allen County commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved the county’s health insurance plan and rates. As a concession for keeping premiums at or slightly below this year’s rates, employees agreed to a reduction in benefits along with higher deductibles and co-pays.

Approval came following the recommendation from a group of county elected officials and workers who have been working on the issue for several months, trying to find ways to get the most coverage for employees while still saving the county money.

“I think it turned out well. It was a good recommendation,” Commissioner Greg Sneary said. “We’ll have to see if we have to do anything further. We’ll just have to take a look at it from there as we move further with the budget. I think it’s a pretty good plan.”

Sneary acknowledged the county’s financial situation has prompted commissioners to ask employees to make sacrifices.

“Are we sensitive to it? Yes, we’re all on the same plan. It impacts us just the same,” Sneary said. “It never comes down to anything other than at the end of the year we have to balance the budget. That’s the main thing of all. We have to do that, so therefore we will do that no matter what happens.”

Sanitary Engineer Steve Kayatin, who chaired the group that made the recommendation, said group members considered adjusting the amount of the county’s contributions to the health care plan.

“We didn’t think at this time it was necessary to explore because we were getting a significant savings on reducing the coverages. However, that still is an option for them,” Kayatin said. “We can’t predict the future on the budget. Things could go south and the commissioners are going to have to make a decision.”

The county currently pays 80 percent and employees 20 percent of the health care plan. Commissioners said they will consider a 75-25 split or a 70-30 split if needed to balance next year’s budget.

Kayatin said the group is looking for ways to keep people healthy as a way to lower costs.

“Some of the plan coverages that we worked into our insurance this year is definitely going to make some people change behaviors. Our emergency room co-pay was $75 on our previous plan. It’s $150 now,” Kayatin said. “So, really think twice about going to the emergency room if you’ve got a cold. Go to the urgent care. It’s only $25 or $35.

“We also put in higher deductibles, so if you use the insurance it’s going to cost you a little bit more, but if you have a healthy year you’re really not going to see any difference out of your pocketbook.”