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~' <br />:7 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: May 8, 2002 <br />Action Agen a <br />Item No. ~~ <br />• <br />SUBJECT: Health Insurance Continuation Option for County Commissioners <br />DEPARTMENT: County Commissioners <br />Office/Personnel <br />PUBLIC HEARING: (Y!N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1 -Draft Revision to Board Policy, <br />"County Contribution For <br />Commissioners' Benefits" <br />2 -Report on Commissioner/Council <br />Health Insurance Continuation <br />Options at End of Term <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Barry Jacobs, Board Chair, <br />Extension 2130 <br />Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director, <br />Extension 2550 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider providing an option for County Commissioners to continue to <br />participate in the County's group health insurance at the end of the Commissioner's term in <br />office by the Commissioner paying the full cost for such health insurance coverage. <br />BACKGROUND: Under the Board of Commissioners policy adopted effective July 1, 2000 <br />(Attachment 1), Orange County provides health insurance benefits for County Commissioners. <br />At present, such coverage ends with the end of the Commissioner's term in office with the <br />option to continue coverage under the Federal COBRA law for up to 18-months by the <br />Commissioner paying the full cost. <br />The above coverage is the same as that provided for County employees except that County <br />employees who are eligible under the County's retiree health insurance policy may continue on <br />the County health insurance and continue to receive the County health insurance contribution at <br />retirement. <br />At the request of the Board, Personnel surveyed surrounding cities and counties as to their <br />handling of Commissioner/Council members health insurance coverage at term end. <br />Attachment 2 summarizes the survey results. Of the eight cities and counties surveyed who <br />offer health insurance coverage to CommissionerslCouncil members, three (Alamance, Durham <br />and Wake Counties) offer a heath insurance continuation option in addition to COBRA: <br />• • Alamance provides for continuation of group health coverage after two terms with the <br />Commissioner paying 50 percent of the cost. <br />