Scott Co. will save $70,000 on health coverage

BENTON, Mo. -- At a time when other government entities are paying more for their health insurance costs, the Scott County Commission was able to save money on its health insurance for employees.

On Tuesday, commissioners approved a new health insurance plan for 2007 that will save the county government about $70,000 next year in health-care costs, Commissioner Jamie Burger said.

"We were kind of skeptical about it at first," he said. "But we contacted two or three references, and those people seemed pleased."

The new insurance will be provided by American Community, with the Healthlink Network as the preferred provider plan. The county's current insurance is provided by Anthem Blue Cross.

If the county had retained its current provider, premiums would have increased by about 21 percent. Such an increase would have put the county in a financial bind, Burger said.

Other local governments will be hit with increases next year. Cape Girardeau County's costs will go up 7.6 percent, while Jackson has proposed a budget that will include an 8.3 percent increase in health-care costs.

Getting the cheaper insurance was easy, Burger said. All the county did was advertise for bids, and the company came to them. Burger believes the company is trying to enter the Southeast Missouri market by providing coverage at a lower cost than other providers.

Stoddard County also recently switched to the same company, he said.

Cape Girardeau County Clerk Rodney Miller said his county received no bid from American Community, and all proposals submitted to Cape Girardeau County included an overall cost increase.

Burger said Scott County employees will save about $10 per paycheck over the current year's premiums.

The new plan won't take effect until Jan. 1, but open enrollment was held this week. Commissioners say the service provided to employees will stay about the same, except for a small increase in copay for prescription drugs. Deductibles for in-network care stayed the same, Burger said.

Bev Riley, an employee in the county clerk's office, said she's only been able to review a summary of the plan but that she's impressed with what she's seen.

"As far as I can tell there's no real change," she said.

Burger said the Healthlink Network offers a variety of area medical providers to choose from.

"People aren't going to have to go to St. Louis to get their health care," he said.

Scott County pays 85 percent of the monthly premium for employees enrolled in the county insurance plan. Under the new plan, employees will pay $51.08 per month while the county will pay $289.45.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182