The Fannin County Board of Commissioners voted, during a meeting Monday, June 1, to move back to a fully insured plan when they selected United Healthcare as the new health benefits provider for county employees.
The Monday decision to switch back away from partially self-funded plan came after a workshop meeting Tuesday, May 26 where the commissioners heard from five providers: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Humana, Aetna and the current third party administrator, Benefit Support, Inc.
“In looking at the United Healthcare program, they do have two options, which the employees would be able to choose,” Chairman Stan Helton said. “Without it being additionally discounted, option one was $2,245,182, and option two was $2,254,468, which would be a 7% reduction for employees, which it’s their option to choose which one they would go. If we voted with United Healthcare, what I would propose is we pass those reduced costs on to the employees. If they chose option two and the county is receiving a 7% reduction in that premium, then we could reduce the employees their weekly contribution, or the deduction that comes out, by that same 7%.”
United Healthcare will also offer a 4% discount if the county allows them to also cover dental and vision.
Post Two Commissioner Glenn Patterson felt moving to a fully insured plan, specifically with United Healthcare, was the best option for the county.
“I feel like a fully-insured would fit us better at this time,” Patterson said. “United Healthcare is very cost effective and it’s got a real good price, and of course a price is not everything. I think it’s a very reputable company. It covers claims well, usually, a good eruption there. I think they have good customer service. … I also like their options, option one and option two. We could give our employees either one of those. They’re very flexible, and they also like to try to encourage good health incentives, which I think is good for our employees.”
Post One Commissioner Earl Johnson agreed that a fully insured plan would be the right move, however he leaned more toward Anthem.
“I have proven prior experience with it,” Johnson said. “That’s who we had before we voted to go with self-insured. They are more expensive, but as far as my opinion, I know what we would be getting if we had them, and it was quite a pleasant experience my first three years dealing with them.”
He explained that the switch to partially self-funded has not paid off for the county stating, “Even before the two of you were there, ya know that’s when we decided to swap over to self-funded, and at that time I thought it was a great idea, and every year has proven me wrong.”
Patterson made a motion to go with United Healthcare, with a second from Helton. Johnson opposed the motion, and it carried 2 to 1.
During the meeting, Recreation Director Eddie O’Neal requested to move forward with their next SPLOST project which includes fixing drainage issues in the park at the rec department for a total cost of $173,170.77. This project will also allow the department to pull the field in by 50 feet and allow more room for another field.
The request was unanimously approved by the board, and O’Neal hopes to get started in the next two weeks with the hopes of finishing in September.
The board voted to not meet Tuesday, June 9 due to election day. They will meet again Tuesday, June 23.