Workers' health care stays free

Members of the Weirton Finance Committee voted to recommend the city continue providing health care coverage to its employees free of charge through 2010 on Thursday.

Although committee Chairman Fred Marsh was not in attendance, Finance Committee members George Kondik and George Ash voted to recommend to council that the city enter into contract with Carelink Health Plans Inc. which, according to officials, is the same company Weirton employees have been covered by in the past.

City Manager Gary DuFour stated extensive research was conducted in order to find a feasible health insurance plan for the city's employees. He said the city's health insurance cost last year was approximately $1.9 million. He said under the new consumer-driven health plan provided by Carelink Health Plans Inc., Weirton will pay $1.7 million leaving a savings of about $200,000.

DuFour said last year's plan did not have a deductible attached to the care provided. He added the Carelink Consumer Driven Health Plan will incorporate a yearly deductible of $1,000 for single coverage and $2,000 for family coverage, which DuFour said the city would pay.

"It reduces our bottom line number that we pay for health insurance and saves us money and it works well for the employees and works well administration-wise as far as the cost," DuFour said.

Ash thanked DuFour and Finance Director Tom Maher Jr. for their work to save the city money and keep benefits for the city employees.

"You guys came through once again," said Ash.

In a related matter, Kondik questioned a resolution authorizing the city to pay $12,163, a figure already factored into the approximated $1.7 million in health care cost for the city, for Total Administrative Services Corp. to administer the accounts for the employees' deductibles.

Kondik suggested the city hire an employee part-time for the same amount of money to do the work instead of outsourcing the job.

DuFour stated the insurance system is changing.

He said they now have the task of paying a deductible, not done before in the City of Weirton which does not currently have an insurance department to handle such claims. He said many other municipalities have adopted the same practice.

"Are you in favor of this?" Kondik asked DuFour to which he replied he is in favor of having the claims and deductibles handled through Total Administrative Services Corp.

DuFour said, under the new plan, employees would also receive itemized explanations of benefits, including information on how much has been paid toward the yearly deductible. Ash noted the task of administering the accounts likely would require more than a part-time employee to handle questions, calls and paperwork.

Ash went on to explain the plan is similar to the one he receives as a retired veteran. He said before, he was never aware of the value of the care he received but now that there is a deductible and a company that takes care of that he does know the value of his health care.

"When you don't see the actual cost of the health care you receive, it's easy to take for granted something like this that is free to our employees," said Ash.

The Finance Committee voted to send the resolutions on to council with the recommendation to vote in favor of them.

(Dickson can be contacted at adickson@weirtondailytimes.com)