Lyon County sets 2009 insurance rates
By Deb GauHealth insurance costs for Lyon County employees will be increasing next year, but not by much, county officials said Tuesday.
The Lyon County Commissioners approved insurance rates for 2009 at its Oct. 7 meeting.
Rates were set for health, life, disability and dental insurance. In some cases, new insurance providers or benefit programs were approved. The rate for active health insurance would go up 3.5 percent next year, Lyon County Administrator Loren Stomberg said. That figure was a positive sign, he said, since health insurance rates tend to be "more volatile" from year to year.
The long term disability rate would decrease, Stomberg said, as would premiums on a new dental plan. The county will be switching dental insurance providers from Aetna to Ameritas next year.
"We were able to get significantly lower premiums," Stomberg said, without much change in coverage.
The county will keep its cafeteria contributions at the same rates as this year: $550 for a single health plan or $900 for a family health plan.
Stomberg said the cafeteria contributions help control insurance costs for the county. Factors like the lower dental premiums and low utilization of life insurance over the past few years also help keep costs down, Stomberg said.
The board also approved a Medicare supplement for retired county employees age 65 and over. The monthly cost for single coverage is higher than last year's retirement supplement cost, Stomberg said, but the coverage is good, similar to the $200 deductible insurance plans available for active employees.
Benefits for retired county employees also resurfaced in discussion at the commissioners' meeting this week. Parks Director Rick Anderson asked the board to consider forming a committee with county employees to work out an alternative to a now-suspended benefit policy.
"We can work through this, I think," Anderson said.
At an Aug. 19 meeting, commissioners voted to suspend a lifetime retiree health benefits package until April 1. The policy, created in 1985, pays toward health insurance for qualifying employees for the rest of their lives. Commissioners expressed concern that the county would be unable to pay the benefit for around 25 employees who could qualify for the benefit.
Anderson said he, Dean Champine and Carol Oakland would be willing to serve on a committee to help find a more acceptable solution for both the county and employees.
Commissioner Bob Fenske and other members of the board asked whether the issue needed the formation of a committee.
"I'd like to see it as a full-board special meeting," Commissioner Steve Ritter said.
"I don't think a committee is necessary, but we need concerns and ideas," Commissioner Rodney Stensrud said.
County Board Chairman Mark Goodenow pointed out that a special meeting would need to be public. The board would also need an actuary's report to help figure out the possible effects of having the health supplement in place.
The board's consensus was to hold a special meeting to discuss the benefits package, but not until an actuarial report was obtained. No meeting date was set.
"I think we realize this is not a fast process," Anderson told the board.
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TommyA
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10-10-08 5:26 PM
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Truth hurts. Have you seen the stock markets? I don't want to work to 100 like anyone else, but if I have too - they should too. Perhaps you'd (Volemt) would like to pay for my benefits out of your taxes, then I'd be a happy camper too.
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volemt
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10-10-08 2:39 PM
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Such bitterness...wow.
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TommyA
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10-10-08 8:32 AM
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Or the county employees can go work at Wal-Mart like everyone else after retirement to get their benefits. Time for government spending to stop! (By the way, I am sure all of these dedicated county employees are off on Monday for Columbus Day on our dime - think of that as the rest of us are slaving away.)
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