Beaver County looking to lower insurance costs

May 24--BEAVER -- When it comes to insurance, the difference between paying less now or less later, after a claim is made, can amount to thousands of dollars.

For Beaver County's insurance coverage, which is set for renewal by June 1, that difference might mean the commissioners choose to pay slightly more in premiums in exchange for a lower deductible.

Financial Administrator Ricardo Luckow presented the commissioners with quotes from the county's present insurer, the Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool (PCoRP), that show the county could pay less in premiums -- $289,389 -- if it sticks with the same coverage plan as it has now. It is paying $309,509 for the present coverage year, which ends June 1.

The coverage comes with a $50,000 deductible for general liability, auto liability and public officials, Luckow said. The county could also reduce its deductible to $25,000 by paying an annual premium of $313,481, slightly more than its current rate.

By Luckow's calculations using the open claims the county has in those categories, the lower deductible would have saved the county about $127,000. The figure isn't an annual savings, he noted, and the county's insurance claims vary from year to year.

But reducing the deductible would help to fix the county's insurance costs, Luckow said.

Commissioner Sandie Egley said the commissioners will review the proposal before acting on it.

The county attempted to get three quotes but received only one other reply, which exceeded $400,000, Luckow said.

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