Cedar Lake town debates health insurance benefits

The Cedar Lake town is looking for employee health insurance that will deliver good coverage and a healthier bottom line.

The Town Council will meet in a special session at 7 p.m. Tuesday to discuss a partial self-insurance plan recommended by a committee of town administrators and employees.

Currently, the town pays Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield $561,193 in premiums annually to provide health insurance coverage for 41 employees.

Town Manager Joan Boyer, who headed up the insurance committee, tried earlier this week to sell the councilmen on the plan.

A motion to adopt the plan by Councilman Dennis Wilkening, D-5th, failed to gain a second to bring the matter to a vote.

Following a prolonged silence, Boyer said, "We spent four months looking at that, guys." She then solicited questions from the council. Many said they needed time to study the figures presented.

Councilman Jerry Reiling said a past, self-insurance effort proved a financial fiasco. "This is too good to be true," he said of the numbers.

Boyer said the plan, as proposed, would save the town between $48,000 and $115,699 in annual premium costs.

Currently, the neighboring town of Lowell pays $475,000 in annual insurance premiums to cover 54 employees. She noted, however, that employees make 20 percent of the monthly premium for dependents' coverage.

BY MELANIE CSEPIGA. Source: www.nwitimes.com