County employees will see few changes in health insurance plans once the switch is made to United Health Care, county officials said Thursday.

Friday, May 26, 2000

County employees will see few changes in health insurance plans once the switch is made to United Health Care, county officials said Thursday.

Commissioners awarded its $2.2 million health insurance contract to that company, which submitted the lowest among five proposals.

The county’s current insurer opted not to do business in Ohio this year, forcing the county to make the switch.

Although current plan rates likely would have increased, the new company’s plan will only cost the county $114,000 more, said Les York, former commission human resources director who ranked proposals for commissioners.

Employee premiums will increase about 5.5 percent but United Health Care offered the lowest cost while retaining similar benefits to the county’s current plan, York said.

The new plan also provides a drug card and 100 percent coverage on more items, he said.

"No two policies are the same, so there’s some give and take," York said. "There are fewer deductibles but there’s 100 percent in-network coverage instead of the 90 percent now, for example."

Rick McNelly of McNelly, Patrick and Associates, which represents the county for United Health Care, said the plan is an HMO but is open access like other insurance plans.

The switch between companies will be smooth, with work starting as early as next week, McNelly said.

Both United Health Care and a McNeely representative will hold employee meetings.

Also Thursday, commissioners approved Ironton’s annexation of about 100 acres of land along Storms Creek – an area proposed for development by Arthur Howard Winer who wants to build a family housing complex.

Trustees objected, but petitioning landowners met state law requirements for annexation, commissioners said.

Commission president Bruce Trent also read a letter from Winer’s attorney stating that the company would replace the township’s loss of $100 in tax revenue each year and would try to increase that amount in the future.

In other action, commissioners:

– Delayed action on a $14,000 contract for a new jail proposal from Levin-Porter and Associates.

Commissioners want to visit jails the company has designed first and ask state officials if grant money will cover such initial proposal costs.

– Set a meeting with grant writers, Hecla Water Association and township trustees involved in rural water projects.

Grants have been awarded but commissioners want to assist in getting the water line projects started as quickly as possible because of the threat of another drought this summer, commissioner Paul Herrell said.

A date for that meeting has not been set.