Thursday, April 20, 2006
The Clinton County Board has approved to a measure changing the county's group health insurance provider for the county employees. Facing a 31-percent rate increase from Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the county board's insurance committee began to the process of looking for a new group health provider. Committee Chair John Raymond says the goal was only to save the county taxpayers' money and to offer the same coverage county employees already had. Seven bids were returned and the board approved the bid from Meritain Health, of St. Louis. County Board Chair Ray Kloeckner says he feels that the real comfortable with the new insurance plan. He says after several years, he expects the county will be well ahead in terms of insurance savings with the new plan. Kloeckner says under the old system, rates had gone up 15 percent for two years, 11.5 in 2004; this year was 43 percent higher and negotiated down to a 31 percent increase. The county's premium with Meritain will be the same as it paid in 2005. The board will be approved payment of a $15,750 to Meritain to begin the enrollment process. Also in the new insurance plan, the county board also to approve an agreement with Einstein Consulting, who will seek the best deals for health issues for the county. Kloeckner says the contracts with Meritain and Einstein combined are lower than what the county were paying Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The county board approved low bids for all summer maintenance projects for the townships and the county. The board was also told that the Illinois Department of Transportation has awarded the bridge project over Lost Creek at Shattuc to Plocher Construction. Work should start by May 1.
posted by kanth
@ 6:12 AM
permanent link | Post a Comment |
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home