Ohio County Commissioner Zach Abraham, on the left, and administrator Randy Russell talks about negotiations for medical health insurance advantages for county staff.
Wheeling – Ohio County staff is not going to pay extra for his or her medical health insurance subsequent yr after the measures of the county commissioners on Monday.
The commissioners gathered on Monday morning and accredited two completely different choices for worker medical care protection by Blue Cross/Blue Defend, mentioned Rely Administrator Randy Russell. They’ll choose a person or household plan.
Lately, staff might select between three provider’s plans, he mentioned.
Russell defined that though the final deductibles are growing considerably for the county, the county will finance the rise of staff within the deductible by the county well being refund account. The HRA funds part of an worker’s deductible to maintain prices.
“With HRA, we’re sustaining staff’ contributions to the identical ranges as within the present yr,” he continued.
The commissioners anticipated a 52% enhance in medical care prices, which equals round $ 2.1 million, for fiscal yr 2025-2026 after claims for the present fiscal yr reached a excessive loss ratio for the insurance coverage firm.
“The rise of $ 2.1 million, we’re absorbing a big a part of that,” Russell mentioned. “With the critiques, we is not going to have a rise of $ 2.1 million. With the change in HRA and the deductible, the rise can be roughly $ 1.eight million.”
Ohio County staff have till June 30, the top of the present fiscal yr, to pick out a well being advantages package deal by 2025-2026.
Along with a rise in medical care premiums for subsequent yr, Ohio County additionally hopes to lose round $ 2 million in property tax income. The Ohio County Advisor Workplace has established the whole evaluated properties values for the county at $ three,158,340,579, $ 475 million fell from this yr.