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14 <br /> 1 The County provides employees with a comprehensive benefits plan, including health, dental <br /> 2 and life insurance, an employee assistance program, flexible compensation plan and paid leave <br /> 3 for permanent employees. Additionally, the County contributes to the Local Governmental <br /> 4 Employee's Retirement System and a supplemental retirement plan. <br /> 5 <br /> 6 The County's health plan has been self-insured since 2014. On February 6, 2018, the Board of <br /> 7 County Commissioners (Action Agenda Item 4-15) approved joining NCHIP and in FY2018/2019 <br /> 8 the County became an inaugural member of the North Carolina Health Insurance Plan (NCHIP) <br /> 9 as permissible under Article 23 of Chapter 58 of the North Carolina General Statutes (the "Local <br /> 10 Government Risk Pool Act"). North Carolina Law allows local governments to enter into <br /> 11 contracts to establish health insurance pools as a means of providing health insurance to <br /> 12 employees and its membership offers economies of scale and risk pooling to members as a <br /> 13 means in providing financial stability in the administration of health insurance programs. <br /> 14 <br /> 15 NCHIP operates with a Board of Directors with members having a vote and say in how NCHIP <br /> 16 operates. Each local government member has representation on NCHIP's Board. The Executive <br /> 17 Board is responsible for reviewing financials, evaluating vendor relationships, evaluating new <br /> 18 members/partners, discussing trends and innovative strategies and planning stability in funding <br /> 19 health insurance costs. Membership allows counties, cities and towns across North Carolina to <br /> 20 work collaboratively in creating a stable, predictable, and sustainable health care program. <br /> 21 <br /> 22 NCHIP currently contracts with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) and Prime <br /> 23 Therapeutics, a division of BCBSNC, to administer medical and prescription claims for its <br /> 24 members. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 In FY2019/2020 and FY2020/2021, the Board of County Commissions approved the County's <br /> 27 continued participation in the North Carolina Health Insurance Pool with no increase to the <br /> 28 Health Insurance Fund. A total health insurance budget of$13.3 million (including health <br /> 29 savings account contributions) is based on current enrollments of employees and pre-65 <br /> 30 retirees and the budget and its respective premium equivalent rates for health insurance for <br /> 31 employees and pre-65 retirees have been maintained. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 The County has continued to maintain financial stability since the onset of NCHIP membership <br /> 34 and subsequently there has been no increase to employees or to the County's Health Insurance <br /> 35 budget. Further, the County has not increased insurance premium equivalents for employees <br /> 36 since 2015; the County incurred the total funding responsibility of any premium equivalent <br /> 37 increase. <br /> 38 <br /> 39 Health Insurance <br /> 40 <br /> 41 The following table summarizes the breakdown of the County and employee contribution <br /> 42 relationship for both health insurance plans based on current enrollment for employees and pre- <br /> 43 65 retirees. Also, demonstrated on the table is the County contribution for$1,416 for health <br /> 44 savings accounts for employees and pre-65 retirees enrolled in the High Deductible Plan. <br /> 45 Attachment 1 shows more detail of this summary. <br /> 46 <br /> NCHIP RATES ORANGE COUNTY (SUMMARY) <br /> July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022 <br /> 47 <br />