Effingham County employees hit with insurance increase

Dec. 18--EFFINGHAM -- Blue Cross-Blue Shield notified Effingham County shortly before Thursday's meeting that it would not be submitting a bid for employee health insurance. That left the board no choice but to renew with Health Alliance -- the current provider -- and absorb a whopping 28.08 percent increase over last year.

"We looked at self-insurance, but the risk was just too high," board Chairman Jim Niemann said.

The board unanimously approved the Health Alliance bid. As a result, a single county employee contribution is $245.28 per month on a traditional plan and $106.11 on a health savings account plan. Family coverage contribution is $1,372.20 per month on the traditional plan and $1,009.15 on an HSA.

The county pays a flat rate of $425 for each employee, and then splits the remainder with the employee. Totals for singles are $915.55 per month for traditional coverage and $737.22 on an HSA. Family coverage totals are $2,042.48 per month for traditional and $1,640.28 for an HSA.

Under terms of the new agreement, the HSA deductible is $600 more than the traditional plan.

"It's not what we were hoping for," Niemann said. "As late as last week, they said they were just waiting for management approval.

"For them to notify us today that they weren't submitting a bid is upsetting," he added.

Niemann said county officials had their hopes up because the original Blue Cross-Blue Shield would have been a 5 percent decrease from last year's rates.

Several county employees attended Monday's meeting because of an interest in the insurance issue. Highway Department employee Jack Miller said he was resigned to another annual increase.

"I'm not really surprised," Miller said. "Any more, these increases are just a fact of life."

Also Thursday, the board opted to table action on the 2016 fiscal year budget on the suggestion of board member Jeff Simpson.

"It would be logical for us to take a look at it first," Simpson said. The board had been waiting on health insurance before passing a budget for the fiscal year that began Dec. 1.

The board is expected to consider the budget at Monday's regular monthly meeting.

Bill Grimes may be reached at 217-347-7151, ext. 132, at bill.grimes@effinghamdailynews.com, or via Twitter @EDNBGrimes.

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