County OKs Switch in Health Insurers

Facing a proposed 42% hike in the cost of providing health insurance to county employees, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday agreed to change insurance carriers to hold down costs.

Under terms reached with the new carrier, Foundation for Medical Care of Ventura County, employees may continue to choose their physician or enroll in a lower-cost health maintenance organization.

The county will pay the new insurance company $333 a month for individual employees who retain the so-called flexible-choice coverage previously supplied by MetLife for $292 a month.

For their share, most county employees will pay less than $40 a month of the total cost.

MetLife first proposed renewing the county’s coverage at a monthly rate of $416, but during competitive negotiations offered a lower price of $400.

County personnel officials continued to negotiate with six insurance companies until moments before Tuesday’s meeting, attempting to provide the supervisors with estimates to provide the same services.

According to Personnel Director Ron Komers, the decision to switch providers was based strictly on cost comparisons.

“We are very happy with MetLife,” Komers said.

“They have a good product that, absent the price question, we would recommend the county retain,” Komers said.

But due to an unexpectedly large number of expensive claims this year, MetLife was forced to substantially raise its rates, Komers said.

The agreement with the new company will save money and cause the fewest disruptions of health care service among the offers received, Supervisor Maggie Kildee said.

“We can keep the same benefits and have the lowest proposal in terms of cost,” she said.