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NewsApril 24, 2001

JACKSON, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau and 86 other Missouri counties benefited from a self-insurance pool that local county officials say has helped keep a lid on workers' compensation costs. The counties shared in $600,000 in dividends from the Missouri Association of Counties Self-Insured Workers' Compensation Fund. Counties and some related health departments received the dividends in the form of credits against this year's premiums...

JACKSON, Mo. -- Cape Girardeau and 86 other Missouri counties benefited from a self-insurance pool that local county officials say has helped keep a lid on workers' compensation costs.

The counties shared in $600,000 in dividends from the Missouri Association of Counties Self-Insured Workers' Compensation Fund. Counties and some related health departments received the dividends in the form of credits against this year's premiums.

Cape Girardeau County received a $12,132 dividend.

The dividends are tied to the premiums counties pay, with counties that pay more money into the fund receive larger credits.

"This is the ninth consecutive year our fund has been able to return profits to the counties who belong to our self-insured pool," said Rodney Miller, Cape Girardeau County clerk and chairman of MAC's insurance board.

Profit incentive

"What is generally a profit incentive for an insurance company is now a savings for the counties who belong to the pool," said Miller, who has chaired the board since the inception of the insurance pool in 1987.

Miller said county officials in Missouri have worked to maintain good safety programs to keep claims to a minimum. The fund employs a loss-prevention coordinator who visits each county annually.

Miller said the insurance pool has returned $4.5 million in dividends to the counties over the years.

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Cape Girardeau County was one of the first counties to join the insurance pool.

"That is one of those deals that is working," said Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones.

Jones and Miller said skyrocketing insurance premiums prompted counties to set up the insurance pool.

Workers' compensation insurance is costing the county $66,129 this year. Without the insurance, the cost would be higher, Miller said.

FUND DIVIDENDS

Workers' Compensation fund Dividends for 2001

Cape Girardeau County, $12,132

Scott County, $7,865

Perry County, $5,022

Bollinger County, $3,475

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