Washington County Commissioner John Grimes met Friday with representatives from AULTRA, the county's current health insurance provider, to discuss the switch to CEBCO, an insurance consortium that now includes 20 Ohio counties.
Michael Novelli, president of AULTRA, told Grimes they would have gotten a discount in the first year of their plan, and could terminate at year's end without a penalty, but Grimes said they chose AULTRA because of the benefits they would receive in the second and third years of the plan.
Commissioners Sam Cook and Larry Steinel did not attend the meeting.
During an October meeting with Schwendeman Insurance Agency, a local insurance broker, county commissioners were presented with several options, including AULTRA, and unanimously voted to go with CEBCO.
Novelli told Grimes that Washington County didn't necessarily need the protection of a consortium.
"From our point of view, Washington County is large enough to stand on its own," he said. "With our plan, if you don't like it, you can leave; we don't penalize you. It's a surprise to us that you would lock yourselves in like that."
Novelli also said they would have saved some money in the first year with AULTRA. However, Grimes said the commissioners decided on CEBCO because rates will be determined by the county's own history of health insurance claims in the first year, but the second and third years will be based on the experience of the other 19 counties.
That should help the county get out from under the shadow of an unusually high number of claims filed while it was with AULTRA, resulting in higher rates, Grimes said.
"We had a horrible experience with you; it couldn't have been any worse," he said.
He cited other differences in the CEBCO plan, which offers no limit on money that can be spent at an annual doctor visit (AULTRA has a $200 limit) and a vision test.
Niles Walters, an employee of Washington County Veterans Services, disagreed with the decision to go with CEBCO.
"They could have savings of up to $110,458 with AULTRA," he said. "There's no guarantee about the savings (in the second and third year); it is not written into the contract."
Grimes acknowledged that, but said they were basing their decision on other counties who have seen savings with CEBCO after their first year.
At a health insurance committee meeting in October, some county employees questioned the commissioners' choice, saying the decision was made without any notice.
Others approved of the selection. Susan Burkhart, the county safety lose coordinator, said employees of counties who have been with CEBCO for years are very happy with their coverage.
