Oktibbeha County will absorb some higher costs associated with a recent health insurance rate hike but county employees who cover dependents and other family members, as well as retired employees, will pay slightly higher costs.
The 2016 rate adjustment, as passed on to Oktibbeha County from Tru Services, brings with it about a 15 percent increase for the county in the single worker and family rates compared to 2015’s mark. A 5 percent increase to workers’ annual deductible and maximum annual out-of-pocket expenses are also planned.
In all, County Administrator Emily Garrard says Oktibbeha County could pay an additional $80,000 annually for employee insurance because of the adjustment.
The county pays for its workers’ insurance, but coverage for additional dependents — spouses and children, for example — are paid by the workers themselves.
According to documents provided by the county, employees currently pay monthly premiums of $285, $300 and $500 for their spouse, per child and for a family rate. With a 5 percent increase, those monthly costs are expected to increase to $300, $315 and $525.
Approximately 105 workers are classified in county-paid, employee-only plans, while 42 are signed up for spouse, children and family coverage.
The 11 retired county employees utilizing Oktibbeha’s insurance plan are also expected to see a slight increase in costs.
“Health care is one crystal ball nobody can figure out,” said District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer.
Trainer said he’s spoken with his counterparts in Lowndes County, who also experienced a similar insurance rate adjustment and cost-passage.
“It’s always good to share in this process. They and many counties across the state are experiencing the same things we’re going through, in terms of higher costs,” he said. “The bottom line is both the county itself and some of our workers had to absorb these costs. We haven’t made these kinds of changes in five years, and hopefully the ones we’ve enacted will last five years or more.”
Under its adjustment, Lowndes County’s payments will go from $496.50 to $680.69 per employee per month. For the county’s 10 retired employees and 25 employees who have family coverage, their premiums will go up by approximately $200 per month. The county will not cover any of the increased costs for those policies.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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