Boone County will face a 17.14 percent increase in employee health insurance premium costs for the coming year, and commissioners met with department heads and employees Monday, May 9, to discuss the path forward.
Commissioners reviewed the notification letter on Blue Cross/Blue Shield rates received from the Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO) and discussed options for the county.
The insurance cost increase, coupled with inflation and the need to increase county wages, will make budgeting much more complicated this year, said Larry Temme, commission chairman.
At present, Boone County is one of only a handful of Nebraska counties that pays full premium cost for health insurance.
The county’s present family plan has an annual deductible of $1,500, which is being increased to $1,600 by BC/BS for next year.
Current cost of the county’s family plan is $2,179 per month, and it will rise to about $2,550 per month next year, according to the notification letter.
In addition to the health insurance increase, there will be a 5.7 percent increase in dental insurance costs.
Complete story in the May 11 Albion News/Boone Co. Tribune and Petersburg Press, print and e-editions.
