Melodie Phelps, News Editor
Monticello — County employees will keep their health insurance through Humana for the
next fiscal year, but they will have another option they can choose that
would have a lower deductible than the standard plan. Employees will have to
pay about $50 more a month for the other plan, if they opt to take that
coverage.
During a special meeting held on Wednesday, June 24, the Wayne County
Fiscal Court made the decision to stay with Humana, after spending several
weeks looking at different insurance options. Humana ended up being the only
company to provide a bid for the county. Two companies chose not to bid, and
a third company was unable to complete a bid because it could not acquire
all the necessary medical information in time.
The county will continue to pay for an individual plan for employees for
the same policy that they have had with Humana. It includes a $750
deductible. But employees could opt for a lower $250 deductible in a second
plan and pay the difference.
The county polled employees regarding health insurance options for the
next year, and Wayne County Judge-Executive Greg Rankin said there was some
employee interest in providing another insurance choice, with lower
deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. Rankin said all employees received a
letter with information about health insurance. They were given a blank
piece of paper to express what they would like to see in a health insurance
plan.
"There were several who said they would be willing to pay more for a
better plan," stated Rankin.
Overall, officials noted that the cost of health insurance premiums for
the county increased between four to five percent next year, which is
considerably less than the 21 percent hike that was originally discussed.
