The DeKalb County Commission agreed Tuesday to make workers shoulder more of their health insurance costs next year, signaling even bigger changes could be coming in the future.
The county will spend $54.9 million to insure its workers and retirees for 2012, which represents a 3 percent jump to the taxpayers’ portion of the cost.
By comparison, DeKalb’s new 4.5 mil increase to the county tax rate this summer will bring in about $50 million.
Commissioners argue that a similar tax hike can’t be repeated, leaving them with no choice but to reign in insurance. Depending what plan they pick, county workers will pay between 63 percent less and 33 percent more next year.
Among ideas already floated:
- setting a county allotment, giving each worker the same dollar amount of coverage, which would put more of the burden on those choosing premium plans;
- a more controversial proposal for limiting retiree benefits.
“I am not suggesting that we should not have retiree insurance,” said Commissioner Elaine Boyer, who spearheaded the 2012 insurance plan. “But we should be looking at a way to give some credits for longer service. We can’t afford not to consider change.”
Workers who attended a public meeting last month supported the shift of costs to them as long as the county brings back an expensive but popular plan option. The county canceled that option last year, in a bid to pare down coverage and save money.
Employees so much wanted that plan restored that they successfully convinced CEO Burrell Ellis to back away from a last-minute effort to scrap it even though the county could use the savings to pay down a greater share of the overall cost.
“We have to focus more on attracting and retaining employees as well as controlling costs,” Commissioner Jeff Rader said. “That requires we look at policy, not just the benefits.”
A new policy discussion, including how to provide retirees’ insurance, could begin as early as January or February of next year. Any new policy would not take effect until at least January 2013, since Tuesday’s vote set the rates and plans for next year.
Still, the commission plans to host meetings with employees as well as residents on any potential changes. Those sessions would likely also begin early next year.
“We have got to set the policies and principles of where we’re going. I’m looking forward to doing that next year,” said Commissioner Kathie Gannon. “We’ve got to do a better job.”
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