County sees lower health insurance premiums

Published 4:21 pm Thursday, October 27, 2016

The Clark County Fiscal Court received some welcome news as its health insurance premiums for employees will go down next year.

Danny Neely of Neely and Wade Insurance told the court Wednesday morning premiums through Humana will go down 2.5 percent for 2017.

“This is the best renewal the fiscal court’s had in some time,” he said.

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He said the premiums will be lower in spite of a 5 percent tax from the Affordable Care Act.

The base cost to employees, including life, vision and dental insurance, dropped from $548.12 to $535, he said.

The county furnished the base plan and $25,000 of life insurance to all employees at no cost. They have the option to purchase two other health insurance plans and vision insurance.

All told, the county would save approximately $17,000 next year on health insurance premiums, Neely said.

Neely said Humana is offering an employee wellness program as well, which would provide a $220 incentive to employees who achieve and maintain certain goals and standards for their health.

Clark County Judge-Executive Henry Branham said he believed part of the reason for the lower premiums was an increased focus on safety and health among the county’s employees.

Open enrollment for county employees is next week.

In other action, the Fiscal Court:

— approved the first reading of a joint city-county ordinance to increase meeting pay for members of the Planning and Zoning Commission to $100 per meeting and Board of Adjustments members to $50 per meeting.

— approved the first reading of an ordinance to re-zone property at 390 Athens-Boonesboro Road from multiple-family residential to planned recreation.

— approved an order declaring surplus property from the road department (homemade hydraulic press) and Clark County Fire Department (1988 Chevrolet pickup truck).

— approved hiring James Roberts as a part-time heavy equipment operator for the Clark County Road Department.

— approved hiring Ashley McClure as an animal control officer.

— hired Robert Smith, Cody Epperson, James B. Schallner, Ethan Brogli, Kyle Witte and Aaron Moss as volunteer firefighters.

— terminated volunteer firefighters Andrew Barnett, Ashley McDonald Byron Schroedel and Chris Howard for inactivity.

Contact Fred Petke at fred.petke@winchestersun.com.

About Fred Petke

Fred Petke is a reporter for The Winchester Sun, the Jessamine Journal and the State Journal. His beats include cops, courts, fire, public records, city and county government and other news. To contact Fred, email fred.petke@bluegrassnewsmedia.com or call 859-759-0051.

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