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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: March 16, 2021 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 6-a <br /> SUBJECT: Recommendations for Employee Health Insurance and Other Benefits <br /> DEPARTMENT: Human Resources <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Breakdown of the Total Health Brenda Bartholomew, Human Resources <br /> Insurance Budget by Enrollment Director, (919) 245-2552 <br /> PURPOSE: To approve the Manager's recommendations regarding employee health and dental <br /> insurance and other employee benefits effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. The <br /> Manager is recommending no increase in appropriations for the FY2021/2022 Health and Dental <br /> Budget and is also recommending that the County continues to participate as a member of the <br /> North Carolina Health Insurance Pool (NCHIP). <br /> BACKGROUND: The County provides employees with a comprehensive benefits plan, including <br /> health, dental and life insurance, an employee assistance program, flexible compensation plan <br /> and paid leave for permanent employees. Additionally, the County contributes to the Local <br /> Governmental Employee's Retirement System and a supplemental retirement plan. <br /> The County's health plan has been self-insured since 2014. On February 6, 2018, the Board of <br /> County Commissioners (Action Agenda Item 4-b) approved joining NCHIP and in FY2018/2019 <br /> the County became an inaugural member of the North Carolina Health Insurance Plan (NCHIP) <br /> as permissible under Article 23 of Chapter 58 of the North Carolina General Statutes (the "Local <br /> Government Risk Pool Act"). North Carolina Law allows local governments to enter into contracts <br /> to establish health insurance pools as a means of providing health insurance to employees and <br /> its membership offers economies of scale and risk pooling to members as a means in providing <br /> financial stability in the administration of health insurance programs. <br /> NCHIP operates with a Board of Directors with members having a vote and say in how NCHIP <br /> operates. Each local government member has representation on NCHIP's Board. The Executive <br /> Board is responsible for reviewing financials, evaluating vendor relationships, evaluating new <br /> members/partners, discussing trends and innovative strategies and planning stability in funding <br /> health insurance costs. Membership allows counties, cities and towns across North Carolina to <br /> work collaboratively in creating a stable, predictable, and sustainable health care program. <br /> NCHIP currently contracts with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) and Prime <br /> Therapeutics, a division of BCBSNC, to administer medical and prescription claims for its <br /> members. <br />