Liberty Township saves money in health benefits

By Jeanne Starmack

starmack@vindy.com

LIBERTY

The township will save money because it shopped for a new health insurance provider, said Administrator Pat Ungaro.

The township will save around $160,000 by switching from Medical Mutual of Ohio to Aetna Insurance.

Ungaro said the township had been paying $697,100 a year with Medical Mutual, and Medical Mutual’s bid was $120,000 higher for the coming year.

The township will now pay $651,000 with Aetna.

Employees will see a 2 percent increase, from 10 percent to 12 percent, in out-of-pocket costs, he said.

Ungaro said that could change in a year depending on what happens with the Affordable Care Act.

Ungaro said the township will see no change in its coverage except for an increase in what it pays yearly toward employees’ health care.

The township paid up to $2,000 per individual employee and $4,000 for family coverage, and will now pay up to $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for a family, he said.

Ungaro also said employees have an incentive to join the township’s wellness program. If they don’t, they pay $1,350 for an individual and $2,700 for a family.

Ungaro said that only about half of township employees use their deductables.

The change in health-care coverage takes effect March 1.