Question from Anonymous
Mayor Connelly can you explain why the city went to a health plan that offers less coverage and costs more? My medication that I must take was already expensive and now its even more expensive. Also does all city employees have the same health package including yourself?
Steve Connelly answered:
The mayor and council are not covered by the city heath plan because we are part-time employees. I wish I did have the city plan. It provides much better coverage than the Kentucky teachers' policy that I am on as a dependent. All city employees, including utilities, have the same plan.
The city plan is very good. We were able to keep almost the same policy with only minor cost adjustments, mostly in deductibles for drug coverage, eventhough the company increased premiums by 15%. Because of the number of city employees, the city premium is now based upon our actual loss experience. (There were weveral large claims for benefits last year.)The previous year's coverage was terminated by the provider. Over all, the city pays about $700,000 for its portion of the health care coverage which includes paying for all of the single-employee protion and one-half of the other individual charges (i.e., dependents).
The city plan is very good. We were able to keep almost the same policy with only minor cost adjustments, mostly in deductibles for drug coverage, eventhough the company increased premiums by 15%. Because of the number of city employees, the city premium is now based upon our actual loss experience. (There were weveral large claims for benefits last year.)The previous year's coverage was terminated by the provider. Over all, the city pays about $700,000 for its portion of the health care coverage which includes paying for all of the single-employee protion and one-half of the other individual charges (i.e., dependents).