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County employees to now have health clinic option
With an eye toward savings for employees and perhaps long-term savings for the county, the Putnam County Commissioners made a change to the county’s health insurance arrangement Monday.
Membership in the Proactive MD health and wellness center will be part of county employees’ health insurance package beginning Aug. 1.
With a clinic located at 1001 Bloomington St. in Greencastle, membership will provide benefits to county employees such as free office visits and free or reduced prices on prescription drugs.
The latter item was a big motivation for the commissioners, as President Rick Woodall said the last time the county changed insurance plans, a number of employees wound up paying much more for prescriptions.
So, the search for an alternative began.
At one point, the county looked into having a self-funded plan, before ultimately learning it would actually cost more.
However, the clinic — which is already used by local schools that are members of the Wabash Valley West Central Indiana School Trust — offers a different way of saving.
“We feel like that is a way that county employees can save some money,” Woodall said. “We feel it gives the employees better access and is a little cheaper.”
The decision — which will cost the county an $10,500 a month — was made easier by the fact that county premiums have been dropping as employees have had fewer claims.
“During the last two or three years, employees have done a really good job and it’s made our premiums go down,” Woodall said.
In the last year, the county has been paying $178,500 in premiums, plus $1,500 to the freshbenies virtual health care service.
For the coming year, the the premiums will go down to $167,800 monthly. By dropping freshbenies in favor of the clinic, the county will be saving $1,700 each month.
Most importantly to employees, none of the cost of the clinic is being passed on to them.
“That is solely being picked up by the county,” Woodall said.
While savings for the employees is the immediate goal, the commissioners believe the change will ultimately mean savings to the county.
“If you look at the past history of companies that have gone to these clinics, their premiums have gone down,” Woodall said.
One thing that is not changing is the county’s contribution to employees’ health savings accounts, with a $500 contribution up front, as well as matching employee contributions up to $1,000.
Fortunately for employees, those HSA contributions should go further, with reduced payments for doctor visits and prescriptions.
“There are a lot of prescription drugs that are free to the employees through the clinic,” Woodall said. “I’m hoping this is a step to help offset some prescription drug costs.”
The health insurance changes take effect Aug. 1.