Council approves change to city’s health insurance

The City of Kirksville will make changes to its employee health insurance plan in 2020, shifting from a self-funded to a fully insured model to mitigate cost increases.

The City Council voted on Monday to approve the change, which will reduce the city's potential liability by about $700,000.

Employees will see no change in their monthly premiums, but several changes in deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums and co-pays.

Deductibles will increase from $500 for an individual and $1,500 for a family to $750 and $2,250, respectively. At that point, coinsurance would kick in at 80% up to out-of-pocket maximums. Those will increase from $3,000 to $4,000 for individuals and $9,000 to $12,600 for families.

The initial proposal had called for individual maximums to jump to $6,300, but Council member Rick Steele objected during the study session and the Council agreed to amend the amount.

Prescription co-pays will also increase, as will co-pays for emergency room, specialist and urgent care visits.

Premiums, however, will remain the same for employees. Those adding a spouse to their plan will pay $388.70 per month, those adding children will pay $291.54, and those adding their entire family will pay $583.06.

The city covers the monthly cost for employees, which is $777.42.

The City of Kirksville has about 150 people on its health insurance plan.

In other business Monday:

- Council accepted a change order for installation of automatic fuel shut off systems at the airport. After a grant the city's cost will be $1,769.

- Council approved lot splits for a tract of land at 908 W. Burton St. and at 1001 W. Adams Drive.

- Council approved an agreement with Klinger and Associates of Quincy, Ill. for engineering design services for street reconstruction projects planned within the Factory, Porter and Wilson subdivisions in 2020. The city will pay $150,000.

- Council approved a bid from BRS Construction of Edina for removal and replacement of a retaining wall along S. First Street from W. Fillmore to W. Scott. The base bid is $29,750, with additive bid alternates of $19,345, $5,120 and $3,520.

- Council approved a resolution to prohibit parking in the 2000 block of N. Florence Street.

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