County to continue funding employee health insurance [Crossville Chronicle, Tenn.]

Aug. 26--Cumberland County will continue to pay for county employees' individual health insurance premiums for 2011.

Commissioners on the Cumberland County Budget Committee approved paying for the Partnership PPO option for health insurance rather than the Standard PPO option in the Partners For Health State of Tennessee Group Insurance Program.

Employees will have the option of either Blue Cross Blue Shield or Cigna. If the employee wishes to add spouses or children family members to their coverage, then the employee will have to pay the additional premium cost, as it has been in the past.

"I think it's a great plan, but it will take the education of our employees through the department heads. We definitely will need to offer something for the employees to help them understand the program. Open meetings for this will be vital," 6th District Commissioner Wendell Wilson said.

Wilson motioned to accept the plan and pay for individual employees' premiums. Jim Inman, 1st District commissioner supported the motion and it was unanimously approved in a 6-0 vote.

This covers employees of the county under the general fund and county road department. The Cumberland County Board of Education is under a different, separate plan.

Prior to this month, commissioners were unsure of what the new rates were going to be with the state plan, but the rates will not increase in this budget year with the Partnership PPO, according to commissioners.

Employees will be required to fill out new paperwork during open enrollment period, which begins Sept. 15.

The county will present a program to county employees who enroll. The new plan will go into effect as of Jan. 1, 2011.

The Partnership PPO and Standard PPO cover essentially the same types of services, treatments and products that are covered under the current health insurance option.

However, the main difference between the two options is that with the Partnership PPO, individuals must commit to a Partnership Promise, and the state will reward subscribers with lower costs. This is the option the county will provide.

Individuals applying will be required to complete a health questionnaire, take a health screening and reduce health risk factors. According to the Partners in Health website, "Members and their eligible dependents can enroll in the Partnership PPO even if they smoke, don't exercise or have a chronic health condition. (In fact, regardless of your health status, we encourage you to enroll!) You don't have to commit to quitting smoking or running a marathon. You just have to commit to being serious about your health and what you can do to stay well or get better."

According to the state website, "In return for committing to the Partnership Promise, you will pay less for your health care under the Partnership PPO than under the Standard PPO..."

Premiums will be less each month, annual deductibles will be less than the deductible required for the Standard PPO and pharmacy co-pays and co-insurance on allowable charges for all types of medical care will be lower. Out-of-pocket maximums will be lower, the web site states.

Commissioners Inman; Nancy Hyder, 2nd District; Lynn Tollett, 3rd District; Wilson and Carmin Lynch, 9th District, approved the motion.

Commissioners David Gibson, 4th District; Jack Davis, 5th District; and Greg Maxwell, 8th District, did not attend the meeting.

For more information about the Partners For Health State of Tennessee Group Insurance Program, visit the website at www.partnersforhealthtn.org.

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Copyright (c) 2010, Crossville Chronicle, Tenn.

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