Orange County NC Website
HEALTH INSURANCE <br />Currently the County offers two fully insured health insurance plans contracted through <br />United Healthcare. Over 75% of employees participate in the Point of Service (POS) Choice <br />Plus plan, which is frequently referred to as a traditional plan. The second plan is a High <br />Deductible Health Plan paired with a Health Savings Account. Both plans allow services in and <br />out of network. A history of employees enrolled in each plan, rate changes and plan changes to <br />the health insurance are on the following pages. <br />Both health insurance plans provide coverage for health care services but have the most value <br />in the event of catastrophic illness or injury. Changing health insurance companies and plan <br />designs provided the County an opportunity to encourage healthy behaviors that can lead to <br />lower long -term health insurance costs. United Healthcare incentive programs to improve <br />employee health are discussed in the Wellness Section below. <br />The 2013 plan options available are a) Point of Service Plan (POS), referred to as a traditional <br />plan because of its co -pays, deductible and co- insurance, and b) a High Deductible Plan (HDP) <br />which is paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Health Savings Accounts provide a way <br />to pay for medical expenses during the plan year, and in the future with portable, tax - <br />advantaged funds. The premium for the POS is more expensive than the HDP. When Orange <br />County implemented the High Deductible Plan in 2012, the County contributed the full difference <br />between premiums to a Health Savings Account for employees electing the lower -cost HDP. In <br />2013, the County maintained the 2012 contribution of $1,237.20 ($103.10 /month) to the HSA. <br />The charts below provide additional information regarding the two plans. Each plan offers <br />advantages and disadvantages to employees, depending on the individual or family health care <br />needs. <br />Comparison of 2013 Orange County Health Plans <br />MM <br />Traditional Plan: Point <br />High Deductible Plan/ <br />of Service Plan <br />Health Savings Account <br />Choice Plus POS <br />Definity HSA <br />100% covered <br />Yes <br />Yes <br />preventive care <br />Co -Pays for Office <br />Visits and <br />Yes, $20 primary care <br />No; 100% co- insurance <br />Prescriptions <br />and $40 specialist <br />until the deductible is met <br />Deductible <br />$500 /individual, $1,500/ <br />family, exclusive of <br />$1,500 /individual, <br />prescriptions and office <br />$3,000 /family <br />visit co -pays <br />County contribution to <br />Yes, in 2013 $17237.20 <br />deductible and co- <br />None <br />contributed to Health <br />insurance <br />Savings Account <br />Co- Insurance (after <br />$1,000 individual, <br />Yes, $2,000 for individual <br />the deductible is met) <br />$3,000 family, exclusive <br />and family <br />of prescriptions and <br />MM <br />