Benefits plan coming for new Macon-Bibb County government workers [The Macon Telegraph]

June 27--The health insurance benefits that about 2,000 employees of the new Macon-Bibb County consolidated government will receive are taking shape and may be ready for a definitive vote in little more than two months.

Both the city and county now use self-insurance systems with a hired third-party administrator, instead of buying a full coverage package from an insurance company, consultant Jimmy Hinson of BB&T Insurance Services on Thursday told the Human Resources Committee of the task force working on consolidation.

All in all, it probably will be cheaper for the new government to stick with a self-insurance system, which also offers more customized coverage, he said.

Answering a question from Macon Mayor Robert Reichert, Hinson said the preference is for self-funding insurance, but the request for proposals will be open to all possibilities.

"We're not excluding anything," Hinson said.

Committee member Leonard Bevill moved to authorize sending out a request for proposals, and to create an 11-member committee with representatives from BB&T, various city and county departments, one elected official from each government, and one person from the task force, to evaluate the bids. His motion passed unanimously.

Hinson said the request will be sent out "immediately" to insurance firms and plan administrators; major carriers in Georgia already know it's coming, he said.

A recommended bid should be ready for the consolidation task force, and for city and county governments to vote on, by early September, Hinson said. Once one is approved, employees can expect to get full information in mid-October meetings and have their new health insurance ID cards by Dec. 16, he said.

A large joint committee from the city, county and BB&T worked out generally what they want from insurance plans, Hinson said. That included making them competitive with other governments, reassuring employees and retirees, and cutting costs while keeping coverage affordable for workers.

The committee recommended offering three insurance options to employees: an HMO, a point-of-service plan with a $1,000 deductible, and a point-of-service plan with a $500 deductible, Hinson said. They hope to push people toward the HMO, which will be lowest in claims costs and also costs employees the least, he said.

The "ultimate goal" is to reduce the government's insurance costs overall, but substantial savings may take several years to be put in place, Hinson said.

Where the new government can hope to find "big dollar savings" is in payment of claims, which makes up 88 percent of insurance costs, he said. Implementing wellness and education programs for public employees will not only help them stay healthier but also make better choices about their own medical care, Hinson said.

The new insurance system also would include options for voluntary dental coverage, life insurance, vision coverage and long-term disability, he said.

In several situations when there would be changes from existing city and county coverage, current employees and retirees could maintain their existing benefits, while those hired after Jan. 1, 2014, by the consolidated government would be part of the new plan, Hinson said.

To contact writer Jim Gaines, call 744-4489.

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