Smithfield council weighs employee health insurance options
On
The town could reduce the rate increase to 9 percent by lowering the level of coverage it provides, Sabiston said. For instance, the town could opt to raise the co-pay for a doctor's appointment to
Most agreed the changes made sense, but Councilman
"This is going to scare people," Wood said. "Hell, it scares me, and I don't have to sign up for it."
Councilman
For single employees, Sabiston recommended the town continue to foot the entire bill. For those with dependents, he suggested
Under that plan,
During the council's discussion, another idea emerged. The town currently pays
Wood seemed to like that idea because, with the extra money,
Sabiston said he would first need to find an insurance company willing to provide the town with a voluntary dental plan.
Before making a decision, Harris said
What's certain is the council faces some tough choices during the budget process.
"There's not going to be a silver bullet, guys," Harris said.
Wellness program
In another bid to ultimately save money, the council added
The top health risks for
Those problems are all preventable, and the wellness program would give workers a financial incentive to improve their health.
Healthier workers should file fewer claims, and that would save the town money.
Hamlin: 919-836-5768
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