Friday, December 20, 2002
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Most of Lawrence County employees will be getting a new health-care plan next year.
Commissioners expect to approve an agreement with Health Assurance at their Dec. 31 meeting. Employees now have Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield health-care coverage.
Commissioners said the switch will save the county about $80,000 in health-care costs in 2003 and even more in 2004. Dollar amounts for that year, however, were not available.
Commissioner Brian Burick said Health Assurance has guaranteed the county that in 2004 health-care costs will go no higher than 12 percent above the previous year's rate. He said Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield told the county its rates would increase as much as 30 percent in 2004.
County officials initially intended to only switch health-care coverage for nonunion, management and elected officials to Health Assurance, but will put most county employees on the plan.
Burick said Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield declined to cover just the county's unionized employees. The union contract states that the county must provide Highmark coverage or the best available alternative, he said.
The only employees not covered under the new plan are those working at the county jail, Hill View Manor and the sheriff's office. Those employees buy their own insurance through their labor union, Burick said.
View on budget
In other business, commissioner Ed Fosnaught said he will not vote to approve the county budget unless some changes are made.
Fosnaught, who voted to introduce the budget last week, said he disagrees with commissioners counting on revenue from the sale of land near Hill View Manor, the county nursing home, to help finance the general fund.
They have budgeted $470,000 in revenue from the sale of 21 acres near the facility.
"We're not absolutely sure we're going to get that money, and I don't believe we should use the sale of assets to cover operational costs," he said.
Fosnaught suggested the county look at trying to increase revenue at the county jail by housing more out-of-county inmates. Lawrence County charges $55 per day to other counties housing inmates in the jail.
Commissioners are expected to vote on the county budget Dec. 31.
cioffi@vindy.com