The Putnam County Board of Commissioners voted Monday to absorb an eight percent increase in health insurance premiums for county employees.
Mayor Randy Porter presented the recommendation from the insurance committee. Porter said the county has a history of covering premium increases to maintain benefits.
“And that is just unheard of for that small of an increase with the amount of claims that we had last year, but it’s great for the county, it’s great for the employees,” Porter said.
Porter said the county faced an initial 23 percent increase from Blue Cross Blue Shield after claims rose by approximately $1.5 million last year. Porter said the county’s insurance broker negotiated the rate down to 12 percent before the insurance provider offered a final rate of eight percent based on a 24-year relationship with the county.
“Their recommendation is that you approve the eight percent increase and that you pick up the employee share of that 8% like you have for the last several years,” Porter said. “Going all the way back to 2014 since I’ve been here y’all have done that.”
District 5 Commissioner Vinnie Faccinto asked for the specific financial impact of the eight percent increase on the county budget. Porter said the total cost to the county will be approximately $480,000 for the general fund.
“If you put it over onto the employee and their share, it would range anywhere from about $48 a year to $400 a year,” Porter said. “Depending on which plan they have: single, two, or family plan, whichever one they have.”
Commissioner Cathy Qualls Reel raised concerns regarding reports that Vanderbilt University Medical Center might stop accepting certain Blue Cross Blue Shield networks.
“Yeah, we would not want to lose them because that’s a lot of our folks go there,” Porter said.
In other business, the board approved a list of equipment be sold via public auction for the fire department. The board also reviewed an annual audit report that required no official action before moving to the insurance vote.
The board also approved an update to the county personnel policy, allowing employees to accrue sick days.