The county’s search for employee health insurance this year looks like it might start a trend of difficult searches, commissioners said.

Tuesday, April 25, 2000

The county’s search for employee health insurance this year looks like it might start a trend of difficult searches, commissioners said. The county used to stay with the same insurance company for several years at a time, even though contracts were signed on a yearly basis, commissioner Paul Herrell said.

This year, the county’s claims handler, Central Benefits, chose not to do business anywhere in Ohio.

"They claim it’s a loss for them to do business here, but it makes you wonder," Herrell said.

Companies seem to have more of a focus today on turning larger profits, he said.

"I think insurance companies are watching dollars more, so if you don’t have claims, they’ll take you on, but if you do, they go elsewhere."

What that might mean for the county is a more difficult search for a provider each year when health insurance bids are sought, Herrell said.

As a result, providers could change every year, too, he said.

It will be a headache, but it also might lower costs, as commissioners expect it to do this year, Herrell added.

"We’ve got some good plans that have come to us so far, so it might be even cheaper," he said.

Commissioners sought bids early this year, citing the need to get as many as possible with enough time to check them for the best coverage.

Some 350 to 400 employees, from courthouse workers to the Department of Human Services and the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities board employees can use the county’s health insurance provider, commission administrator Kathy Fraley said.

Offices like the county engineer’s, whose employees are part of the Teamsters union, have their own insurance policies.

The county asks for health insurance proposals in a bid format, seeking a contract that runs from June 30 to July 1, Mrs. Fraley said.

The county advertises for quotes, then sends out a package listing what it requires in insurance proposals, she said.

"We ask for proposals on what we currently have," she said. "Sometimes it’s the same, sometimes they can better it."

Sometimes pricing ratios change – in other words, there could be a difference in percentages paid by employee and employer from provider to provider, Mrs. Fraley said.

Union contracts also require the same or better benefits when insurance providers change, she said.

The county budgets for any increases and then seeks the best contract, Mrs. Fraley added.

"You’re never sure until the proposals come back."

Herrell said he and other commissioners foresee few problems with finding a new insurance company this year.

But they will keep an eye on proposals, he said.

"We want better coverage for the same money or less and I think that will happen."