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County Administrator Joseph Baird reported that due to a <br /> substantial increase in medical claims costs and a deficit in the <br /> County's health insurance fund, staff was recommending some <br /> changes to the County's health care plan. The proposed <br /> changes included an increase in employee contributions per <br /> month, and higher deductibles and co-pays. <br /> Director of Management and Budget Jason Brown disclosed <br /> that health insurance costs rise about 9% each year, and that <br /> the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (a/k/a <br /> Obamacare) requires the County to fund certain expenditures. <br /> Director Brown said no plan adjustments were made over the <br /> past five years because staff did not want to shift healthcare <br /> costs to the employees, when there had been no salary increases. <br /> Vice Chairman Solari was opposed to an increase in employee <br /> contributions for the current year. <br /> Chairman Davis advocated delaying any potential increases <br /> until Fiscal Year 2016-2017. <br /> Commissioner Flescher remarked that he would not support <br /> any type of increase or out-of-pocket contribution for County <br /> employees. <br /> Pursuant to his request, Administrator Baird relayed Sheriff <br /> Loar's opposition to increased health care costs. <br /> Commissioner O'Bryan did not want the taxpayers to shoulder <br /> the increased health care costs. Thus, he advocated increasing <br /> employee contributions by $20 a month for both single and <br /> family coverage. He also wanted to drop the proposed Fiscal <br /> Year 2016-2017 plan adjustments for now. <br /> Commissioner Zorc mentioned that managed care plans might <br /> help reduce health care costs. <br /> Steve Myers, Teamsters Business Agent, stressed that the <br /> increased health care costs would not impact the taxpayers, <br /> because there is a healthy amount of reserves in the health <br /> insurance fund. <br /> MOTION WAS MADE by Vice Chairman Solari, SECONDED <br /> by Commissioner Flescher, to: (1) DENY staff's <br /> recommendation to implement the health plan changes outlined <br /> on page 175 of the agenda package; (2) direct staff to conduct <br /> research and report back with health plan options; and (3) <br /> impose no increase in the employee portion of the health <br /> Board of County Commission Meeting Page 10 <br /> June 23,2015 <br />