Agenda - 09-20-2005-9b - Laserfiche WebLink

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County Contribution for Employee Health Insurance For the 2006 benefit plan year, the County's proposed contribution for employee health insurance is the: ^ Full cost for individual employee coverage and ^ 52 percent of the cost of dependent coverage based on the Blue Cross Blue Care Plan rate. As is the usual process, the County then applied the dollar amount of the dependent contribution calculated based on the Blue Cross Blue Care rate to the Blue Cross Blue Options plan. The County has maintained a dependent subsidy of 52 percent since the 2003 plan year. Continuation of the subsidy at this level maintains a key "family friendly" policy offered by the County that is highly valued by a large number of County employees. This is a family friendly policy in that it makes health insurance coverage for dependents, whether spouse, domestic partner, children, or entire family more affordable, and thus, accessible. It particularly benefits lower salaried employees for whom dependent health insurance coverage is a significant cost, Draft 2006 Health Insurance Rates The Attachment 3 draft monthly health insurance plan rates are based on: ^ Renewal of the current plans with the addition of the $250 deductible to the Blue Care plan as in Option 5 above. ^ Continuation of the current 52 percent dependent subsidy, based on the Blue Crass Blue Care Plan. Next Steps With the Board's approval of the health insurance renewal and rates, staff will proceed to develop the employee open enrollment packets, distribute these to employees in early October, hold the open enrollment period October 17 through November 5 with the Benefits and Wellness Fair tentatively scheduled for Friday, October 21. Payroll deductions at the new rates will begin in the pay period beginning November 21 for coverage effective January 1, 2006. ABC Board Employee Health Insurance In follow up to the request of the ABC Board, the Board of Commissioners asked that staff explore the option of adding ABC employees to Orange County's health insurance, Information has been obtained for that review, Analysis and development of the requested report is underway, Meanwhile, the County has been advised that if ABC employees were added it would not affect the County's renewal rate for 2006, Given that, it is not necessary to delay consideration of the County's health insurance renewal pending the ABC Board report.