Healthcare costs remain same for county

By Susan Taft
staft@campcountynow.com

Insurance was the main topic for Camp County commissioners at their regular meeting Feb. 11.
The county uses a partially self-funded insurance plan. In the current plan, once an employee reaches $35,000, it goes into reinsurance, according to County Judge Thomas Cravey. Commissioners voted to raise the self-insured limit to $45,000.
“Nothing will change as far as the cost to the employees,” Judge Cravey said. “I don’t like to increase benefit costs, especially when we didn’t give pay increases this year.
“HealthFirst is the administrator. They process our claims, and we pay them an administrative fee. “
Judge Cravey said some years no one reaches the reinsurance amount; some years one or two employees do.
Judge Cravey and County Treasurer Judy Croley had been working with consultants the last few months, going over the insurance. In addition to the self-insurance plan, they got quotes from insurance companies such as Blue Cross Blue Shield.
“I think staying with the self-insured plan is best for the county because we have more control over costs,” Mrs. Croley said.
In other business, the court approved the purchase of a John Deer 310 backhoe loader for Precinct 3.