The county’s switch to a new health insurance provider sparked concern last week from employees.

Monday, June 26, 2000

The county’s switch to a new health insurance provider sparked concern last week from employees.

American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees Local 3319 filed a grievance Thursday, saying the plan is not the same or better than the old plan – a requirement of the union’s contract.

"We don’t feel they have a grievable issue," commission president Bruce Trent said.

The county approved an insurance policy in May that was comparable to employees’ old plan, Trent said.

Employees are concerned that the new insurance company is an HMO and that its plan is not accepted by some area healthcare providers, union president Diane Gettys said.

The commission awarded its $2.2 million health insurance contract to United Health Care, which submitted the lowest among five proposals. The county’s current insurer opted not to do business in Ohio this year, forcing the county to make the switch.

The plan cost the county $114,000 more than it had been paying.

Employee premiums increased under the plan by about 5.5 percent but United Health Care offered the lowest cost while retaining similar benefits to the county’s current plan, commissioners said.

The new plan also provided a drug card and 100 percent coverage on more items, they said.

Rick McNelly of McNelly, Patrick and Associates, which represents the county for United Health Care, said the plan is an HMO but is open access like other insurance plans.

Ms. Gettys, other employees and commissioners met with McNelly recently to discuss transition and how the new plan works.

But employees still have a lot of concerns, Ms. Gettys said.

"My biggest concern is they moved us to an HMO," she said, adding that means drastic changes.

Doctors and others in the medical community haven’t had anything positive to say about United Health Care, Ms. Gettys added.

And some won’t do the billing for patients although company has said it will try to help with that situation, she said.

Employees also are concerned that only two hospitals are in the company’s network, River Valley Health System and Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital; the company will cover deductibles but not honor other out-of-pocket expenses some employees have already paid on current plans; and the new plan increases mail-in prescription costs, Ms. Gettys said.

The county is working with the company and employees to get concerns answered but that takes time, Trent said.

Trent also pointed out the cost difference in the next lowest-proposal, which was $277,000 more.

"We’re trying to do what we can with the budget we have," he said.

Ms. Gettys said that insurance plan, from Medical Mutual, might be more comparable with what employees used to have.

"All I want is the best possible insurance we can get for a reasonable price," she said. "But cheaper is not always better."