Aetna new WM employee insurer

Aetna new WM employee insurer

City changes provider for municipal workers

news@theeveningtimes.com

As expected, the West Memphis City Council has approved changing the primary health care insurance provider for its nearly 400 employees.

The council voted unanimously at its Nov. 2 meeting to accept the Aetna’s bid to take over the city’s group health coverage, replacing United Health Care. There were a few twists to the decision to make the switch but Councilor Ramona Taylor indicated it was all for the better as afar as city employees would be concerned.

The insurance committee had intended to continue the United Health vision plan. But when United learned of the city decision to walk away from renewing the over-all health insurance it withdrew its offer to extend vision coverage to city workers. Taylor said that made Aetna the logical choice to turn to pick up insurance for the eye doctor.

“On vision, the low bidder was actually Cigna, but they withdrew their bid since we are not going to have health insurance with them,” said Taylor. “Aetna was the next lowest bid but actually paying less than we paid this year with United. It is cheaper for the individual employee and a little bit higher for the family.”

Dental insurance went up five percent after being flat for four consecutive years.

Dental sets the employee back $18.56 per month and the family plan rated at $65.96.

Mayor Johnson said the individual employee contribution toward group medical coverage would remain at the bargain rate of $50 per month.

“The good part about it is our employees for their part won’t have an increase,” said Johnson. “We had an increase but that won’t be passed along to the employees.”

The city treasurer knew the exact increased amount the city will absorb for the sake of its employees.

“It’s $461,000,” said Frank Martin.

The in physician network appeared to exhaustive to insurance committee charwoman Taylor.

Aetna is part of the Baptist network as well as St. Francis, and UAMS,” said Taylor.

“Aetna has Methodist in it, but the cost saving advantages come by using Baptist,” said Martin.

“All out local doctors are in Aetna,” said Taylor.

The annual deductible went up along with family coverage cost as the city took the low bidder for the group insurance package.

“The low bid was Aetna insurance, I move we accept the bid,” said Taylor.

“As part of that motion we would increase the deductible to $1,000 and increase the family portion to $450 which reflects a $30per-month increase.”

By John Rech