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14 <br /> a. Recommendations for Employee Health Insurance and Other Benefits <br /> The Board considered voting to approve the Manager's recommendations regarding <br /> employee health and dental insurance and other employee benefits effective July 1, 2021 <br /> through June 30, 2022. The Manager is recommending no increase in appropriations for the <br /> FY2021/2022 Health and Dental Budget and is also recommending that the County continue to <br /> participate as a member of the North Carolina Health Insurance Pool (NCHIP). <br /> Brenda Bartholomew, Human Resources Director, introduced the item and highlighted <br /> some of the background information. She asked for the Board to approve the insurance rates, <br /> which had no increase, and to approve continued participation in the North Carolina Health <br /> Insurance Pool (NCHIP). <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> The County provides employees with a comprehensive benefits plan, including health, dental <br /> and life insurance, an employee assistance program, flexible compensation plan and paid leave <br /> for permanent employees. Additionally, the County contributes to the Local Governmental <br /> 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 <br /> contracts to establish health insurance pools as a means of providing health insurance to <br /> employees and its membership offers economies of scale and risk pooling to members as a <br /> means in providing 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 <br /> Executive Board is responsible for reviewing financials, evaluating vendor relationships, <br /> evaluating new members/partners, discussing trends and innovative strategies and planning <br /> stability in funding health insurance costs. Membership allows counties, cities and towns <br /> across North Carolina to work collaboratively in creating a stable, predictable, and sustainable <br /> 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 /> In FY2019/2020 and FY2020/2021, the Board of County Commissions approved the County's <br /> continued participation in the North Carolina Health Insurance Pool with no increase to the <br /> Health Insurance Fund. A total health insurance budget of$13.3 million (including health <br /> savings account contributions) is based on current enrollments of employees and pre-65 <br /> retirees and the budget and its respective premium equivalent rates for health insurance for <br /> employees and pre-65 retirees have been maintained. <br /> The County has continued to maintain financial stability since the onset of NCHIP membership <br /> and subsequently there has been no increase to employees or to the County's Health <br /> Insurance budget. Further, the County has not increased insurance premium equivalents for <br />