3rd June, 2008

City employees could pay as little as $5 a month for health insurance if the Crown Point Board of Works and Public Safety decides to adopt the recommendations introduced to the city's personnel committee Tuesday night.

In April, city employees were given surveyed regarding their insurance policies by Edward Culpepper Cooper, the vice president of sales for Maverick Insurance, which handles the city's insurance.

The survey results were released to the employees Tuesday night, and while 79 percent said they were satisfied overall with their current benefit plan, 40 percent said they were not satisfied with the cost.

In 2005, city employees watched as their insurance went from paying $1 a year for a $100 deductible to $40 a month for the same deductible. While Cooper couldn't bring rates back to the pre-2005 level, his recommendation is for a new rate scale that would allow employees to pay $25 a month for a $100 deductible and $5 a month for a $250 deductible.

Copper also discussed the possibility of offering a third plan for those who are able to retire but said he had some kinks to work out on the plan that he would discuss it in more detail in July.

Human Resources Director Karen Marben said the new rate structure is on the agenda for the board's Wednesday meeting.

Source : http://www.thetimesonline.com/