|
|
 |
County amends abortion policy on employee
health care plan
by Lisa
Wall, Editor Thomasville Times
April 2011
LEXINGTON — Davidson County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 Tuesday to
change the coverage of abortions in the county employees’ health care plan.
Commissioner Fred McClure brought the item into discussion prior to the
board approving terms and premiums of the 2011-12 health care plan.
Commissioner Don Truell cast the dissenting vote.
Under the addendum to be added to the county’s Blue Cross/Blue Shield
policy, abortions would not be covered unless they are a result of “rape or
incest or if the pregnancy puts the mother’s life in danger.
“In the exclusion portion [of the policy] I’d like to include elective
abortion, further described as to prevent the use of medical abortion used
as a method of birth control,” McClure said. “This is an amendment to the
plan design. It doesn’t affect the rates or premiums.”
Human Resource Director Jim Tysinger said the current policy states that
benefits for abortion, be it therapeutic or elected, are allowable through
the first 16 weeks of pregnancy for all policy holders, excluding dependent
children.
Tysinger said that wording could be changed to say therapeutic, with a
detailed description of what conditions must apply in order to be covered
under the policy.
“My only concern is that we get the wording right, so that we didn’t
endanger anybody’s health,” Commission Chair Sam Watford said.
Following the plan design vote, the board unanimously voted to approve the
health plan for the 2011-12 fiscal year, after hearing policy changes from
Tysinger.
“I recommend that we stay with Blue Cross/Blue Shield as our carrier this
year,” Tysinger said. “I went out shopping other insurance companies out
there. They had the best service and price.”
According to Tysinger, the insurance will increase about 2.5 percent over
last year’s cost, which is markedly lower than trends around the state of
7.9 percent. The cost of insurance to the county would be approximately $6.9
million.
Employees who choose the buy out plan will receive a 6 percent increase for
single coverage and a 9 percent increase for family coverage. No increase
will be assessed to employees for the base plan.
The voluntary dental insurance carrier will switch from Standard to Denton,
with only a minimal increase in premiums. The life and accidental death
carrier will switch from Standard to Signa, with a premium cost savings to
the county of $20,000 over three years.
Click here for next article | |
