The Starke County Commissioners approved a health insurance renewal for county employees during a special meeting that was held on Wednesday, October 14th.
The renewal includes a 5% increase in health insurance premiums for the coming year, with only minor changes to existing plans or benefits.
During the meeting, an insurance representative explained that the insurer had offered a 5% increase through a no-shop renewal agreement, allowing the county to accept the offer without seeking competing proposals.
The representative said the insurance industry’s average baseline increases are currently running between 12% and 15%, with some employers facing significantly higher increases.
The county’s insurance coverage will see some adjustments. Short-term disability rates will decrease by 9.2%, while basic life insurance rates will increase by 8.9%. Dental, vision, long-term disability, and several other coverage categories will see no change.
Commissioners also asked how the renewal would affect employee contributions. The representative explained that the figures presented reflected total insurance premiums, and the county would still need to determine how the increase would be reflected in employee payroll deductions.
Following the discussion, commissioners voted to accept the renewal offer. The insurance representative said she would contact the carrier to obtain the necessary paperwork and coordinate employee open enrollment meetings with the county’s human resources department.
