Holt County Employee Insurance Costs Skyrocket For New Year

Courtesy LuAnn Schindler, 

Summerland Advocate

Holt County Supervisors received frightening news on Halloween when they learned health insurance premium costs for county employees are projected to increase 24.1%, effective Jan. 1.

During Friday's scheduled meeting, Anson Insurance Agency representative Steve Anson told supervisors that current-year losses have been more than expected. According to Anson, Meritain Health expected $1.3 million in claims.

"We already have $1.3 million," he said.

Typically, three to five individuals on the plan exceed $50,000. This year, six have already reached that amount and two or three are "right on the edge," according to Anson.

"You have 19 people on the list that have a total of $1.185 million in claims. Usually the last three months of the year go up in claims because people have already met their deductibles," Anson said.

Supervisor Don Linquist Jr. asked what the increase calculates to dollar-wise.

The current premium runs $1,874, 969. Costs are projected to increase to $2,128,899, a 28.46% increase.

"When you look at it over 60 employees, you can't say individuals or families cost this much. You have to take a composite reading, so it's up about $3,000 a family. You have a really low deductible. You have a Cadillac plan," Anson said.

If the county would increase its plan's deductible, it would lose its grandfathered policy.

"You don't want to do that," Anson said. "Prices will get considerably higher."

Discussions with Meritain officials showed that increasing the deductible to $1,600 would only make a 1% difference in premium.

Following a meeting with Meritain representatives, Anson and county clerk Cathy Pavel worked on ideas to offset the price increase, including potentially increasing individual and family-plan monthly contributions.

Employee contributions have not increased since approximately 2006.

Anson said the increase in monthly contributions will still give employees a good plan, which includes three doctor visits, prescription drug coverage, and some elective tests.

Supervisor Doug Frahm said supervisors have been diligent about providing a quality plan.

"If it's going to go up substantially on insurance cost, maybe it's something we look at," he said.

Supervisors will address the monthly contribution at an upcoming meeting.

They did approve accepting the renewal for employee health coverage with Meritain Insurance and stay with the $50,000 self insurance.

In other business, supervisors:

• Established a cardholder policy that will be distributed to county offices.

"It should be a given to only purchase things for the county, Pavel said.

Currently one purchase card is available at the courthouse and maintained in the clerk's office. Other offices are able to use the card when needed.

Frahm said it's a good way to document all departments know about it.

• Discussed storage containers for use at the former administrative building. No action was taken.

• Heard a quarterly update from Veteran Service Officer Ken Stenka. He told supervisors he assisted 32 veterans file claims in the last quarter.

Stenka also acknowledged a donation of $2,100 that went into the county veterans aid fund.

• Approved a special designated liquor license for Shamrock Nursery.

• Approved surety bonds for Teresa Walton, Golden Township, and Mark Cooper, Orchard Rural Fire District #7.

• Agreed to sign a new lease for a skid steer from NMC. The current leased machine is out of hours. Road superintendent Gary Connot said the new skid steer is the same machine, the lease is at the same price, and hours on the new contract are updated.

"Our options are to pay for overages or lease a new skid steer," he said.

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