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GIRARD —
It’s just an idea at this point, but Crawford County commissioners spent a portion of Friday’s meeting talking about health insurance.
The discussion had nothing to do with Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling, but rather whether the county should offer health insurance discounts to its nonsmoking employees.
“In my job, I get a $480 discount,” said commissioner Linda Grilz. “You have to accumulate a certain number of points to get the discount. One of which is if you are a nonsmoker. It also counts health screenings, women going in for a mammogram, getting your eyes tested and going to the dentist.”
Grilz suggested that perhaps the county should look into discounts for nonsmokers, as many health insurance options do at this time.
“A move toward being proactive rather than reactive would be good,” Grilz said. “A nonsmoker and non-tobacco user might qualify for a discount of some sort.”
Grilz said that the county has already seen its rates decline slightly since hosting several first aid and other classes for its employees. Commissioners speculated that perhaps the timing of the rate declines could be connected to those courses.
Commissioner Carl Wood said the county is a self-insurer, and said the county should be focused on reducing the amount it pays to a health insurance administrator down from about $36,000-$38,000 a year.
Commissioners agreed that potential discounts would be worth looking into.
“If smokers are 3 percent and nonsmokers are 97 percent of our workforce, I don’t know the number, maybe those 97 percent could get a discount,” Grilz said. “I have nothing against smokers — I’m reformed myself.”
The commissioners also heard a proposal from Kristi Davis of EagleMed about a membership program that would help employees with costs of any EagleMed air flight to a local hospital. The costs, which could be as low as $45 per family per year depending on how many sign up for the membership program, could either be paid by the county or by the employee, Davis said.
Commissioners invited Davis to speak to the insurance committee, and to potentially return for the Employee Benefits Fair later in the year.
“Everyone’s circumstances are different,” Grilz said. “Some people may feel this is very worthwhile, and others might not care as much.”
The commission also spent a portion of Friday at a fence viewing in Chicopee. Part of the commissioners’ duties involve settling disputes over condition, purpose and location of fences throughout the county.
Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 140.
It’s just an idea at this point, but Crawford County commissioners spent a portion of Friday’s meeting talking about health insurance.
The discussion had nothing to do with Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling, but rather whether the county should offer health insurance discounts to its nonsmoking employees.
“In my job, I get a $480 discount,” said commissioner Linda Grilz. “You have to accumulate a certain number of points to get the discount. One of which is if you are a nonsmoker. It also counts health screenings, women going in for a mammogram, getting your eyes tested and going to the dentist.”
Grilz suggested that perhaps the county should look into discounts for nonsmokers, as many health insurance options do at this time.
“A move toward being proactive rather than reactive would be good,” Grilz said. “A nonsmoker and non-tobacco user might qualify for a discount of some sort.”
Grilz said that the county has already seen its rates decline slightly since hosting several first aid and other classes for its employees. Commissioners speculated that perhaps the timing of the rate declines could be connected to those courses.
Commissioner Carl Wood said the county is a self-insurer, and said the county should be focused on reducing the amount it pays to a health insurance administrator down from about $36,000-$38,000 a year.
Commissioners agreed that potential discounts would be worth looking into.
“If smokers are 3 percent and nonsmokers are 97 percent of our workforce, I don’t know the number, maybe those 97 percent could get a discount,” Grilz said. “I have nothing against smokers — I’m reformed myself.”
The commissioners also heard a proposal from Kristi Davis of EagleMed about a membership program that would help employees with costs of any EagleMed air flight to a local hospital. The costs, which could be as low as $45 per family per year depending on how many sign up for the membership program, could either be paid by the county or by the employee, Davis said.
Commissioners invited Davis to speak to the insurance committee, and to potentially return for the Employee Benefits Fair later in the year.
“Everyone’s circumstances are different,” Grilz said. “Some people may feel this is very worthwhile, and others might not care as much.”
The commission also spent a portion of Friday at a fence viewing in Chicopee. Part of the commissioners’ duties involve settling disputes over condition, purpose and location of fences throughout the county.
Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 140.
