X

St. Lawrence County and unions working together to reduce healthcare costs

Posted 3/5/17

By JIMMY LAWTON CANTON – St. Lawrence County is hoping to find significant savings by switching health insurance administrators and continuing to explore insurance options with input from its …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

St. Lawrence County and unions working together to reduce healthcare costs

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON – St. Lawrence County is hoping to find significant savings by switching health insurance administrators and continuing to explore insurance options with input from its employees.

St. Lawrence County is self-insured and has been working to keep health insurance costs at a sustainable level. The county appointed a Health Insurance Committee chaired by legislator David Forsythe, R-Lisbon, to investigate ways to save money.

St. Lawrence County’s health insurance costs have risen significantly over the past few years. In 2012 the county spend $20.5 million compared to $23.8 million in 2016.

Last year, legislators selected a new consultant, Burnham Benefit Advisors, to assist in an overall review of our plan and the provision of benefits.

“We brought together the Leadership of all seven unions to meet and discuss the issues of importance to both the unions and management. We met several times,” St. Lawrence County Administrator Ruth Doyle said in an emailed statement. “Those meetings have been productive and yielded a consensus to move from the current third party administrator of Resolve over to Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield.”

It’s unclear how much the county will save under the new plan, but Doyle says it opens up potential for the county and its employees to new options.

“The county will continue to be self-insured or self-pay at this time. The original interest of the county was to consider a fully insured plan,” she said. “The review of this option reflected potential changes in benefits and those can be considered when contract negotiations arise for each bargaining unit.

Doyle says four unions, including the county’s road patrol, Sheriffs Supervisors Union, jail staff and their Supervisors Union, have contracts that expire at the end of 2017.

The remaining unions including Solid Waste and the Indigent Defenders contracts will expire at the end of 2019

“The County is extremely pleased with the collaboration between management and all seven unions on this endeavor and it will continue after the transition occurs,” Doyle said.

Doyle says the county will continue meeting with unions on a quarterly basis to identify further savings.

“Our collective efforts have proven successful and we hope to continue working together to take care of our employees and their families, both active and retirees,” she said.