Posted on 10/07/2013 12:33:50 PM PDT by 11th_VA
Spouses with access to other medical insurance plans are getting bumped from Ottawa County’s employee insurance plan.
The move, coupled with increased premiums for single and family policies that also take effect Jan. 1, 2014, is an effort to curtail the insurance plan’s downward spiral. If nothing had been done, consultant projections place the county‘s self-insurance healthcare plan in the red about $1 million dollars by early 2014.
Part of the soaring costs had to do with significant claims filed since the beginning of the year.
“We’ve had an unusually high claim year,” Sass said. “Out of the last seven, I’d say it was one of the highest.”
County leaders hope the insurance plan changes and a drop in claims in the upcoming year will steady the health insurance plan’s financial course.
I am very curious just exactedly where in Oregon Ottawa County is located.
Re: “We’ve had an unusually high claim year,” Sass said. “Out of the last seven, I’d say it was one of the highest.”
Perhaps doctors advised “better get that new knee or hip replacement now — ‘cause you won’t be able to next year.”
I think it's in the part called THE STATE OF OHIO
Then perhaps the misleading title should be corrected, oh wise one!!
Wait - I changed it to Oregon after a 2nd google search - wonder why it wasn’t changed
Actually it doesn't and the county is behind the curve in their decision. This has been the trend in the private sector for the past 10 years or so. No company wants to foot the bill for healthcare of a spouse who is eligible for coverage with their own employer.
My company did the same thing and on a couple occasions, actually forced the employee to pay the healthcare charges that we paid on their spouse's behalf when it was discovered the spouse had coverage.
I need to also mention that my company was self insured, which made the discovery much easier.
Anything that separates health “insurance” from employment is a good thing in my view.
That’s what got us into this medical cost mess in the first place.
Indirectly, I’d say it DOES have something to do with Øbamacare. Affordable Coverage and all the business penalties under the act deal with coverage for the employee only. With the jacked up costs and businesses trying to stay in operation (imagine that!), dumping family coverage is about the only avenue open to them. Perhaps that’s not the direct case here, but it is the inevitable universal outcome as Øbamacare swings into full effect.
What if the spouses plan has their own rule? I'm surprised the county isn't bouncing the kids too.
Wait a minute, every spouse would have access to other insurance, it's called Obamacare.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
