June 17, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
Due to rate hikes and mandates of the Affordable Care Act the county is budgeting an increase of $76,800 in the amount it pays toward health insurance for employees under its group plan.
The county budget committee last week voted to increase from $350 to $450 the amount the county pays to meet the federal mandate in covering 64 county employees enrolled in the plan. If approved by the county commission, the county would be spending next year $345,600, up from $268,800 this year.
County officials are expecting insurance costs to increase from 5% to 12% with the average increase for the basic plan to rise by 11.6%
“The county pays $350 per month for each employee who takes insurance. Sixty-four people have county insurance. We have to meet the Affordable Care Act. Under the law, the lowest paid full-time employee cannot pay more than 9.565% of their salary for insurance. We are going to have to do something to come in line with the Affordable Care Act. If the county went from paying $350 per employee to $450 per month for each employee, then that would satisfy the requirements,” said County Mayor Tim Stribling.