The White County Board met July 21 to present a self-funded health care plan.
Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the board:
White County Board Meeting
July 21, 2016
6:30 p.m.
A special meeting of the White County Board was reconvened at 6:30 on July 21, 2016 in the
Courtroom of the White County Courthouse in the City of Carmi.
Clerk Dozier called the roll with Dosher, Usery, Puckett and Trout present and Mr. Ray was not
informed that the Tuesday meeting had been recessed so he will be running a little behind.
Mr. Usery made a motion to reconvene the meeting, seconded by Puckett. Motion carried 5-0
on roll call vote.
Mr. Mark Kelly, our agent of record, explained that he had brought a representative from Key
Benefit Administrators, Mr. David Smith to present their self-funded plan. Mr. Smith presented each
board member with a pamphlet which explains step by step their insurance plan. He explained that it
isn’t only a self-funded insurance plan but a wellness plan. The company he is with tracks 27 different
illnesses and tries to manage those individuals healthcare. In some instances the individuals are given
their medication or supplies free to help manage cost and hospital stays. Mr. Smith stated that the
county would have to transfer what they are currently paying to Blue Cross/Blue Shield per month to
Key Benefit Administrators. Mr. Trout asked if the County would have to hire and find someone to
administer their program and Mr. Smith replied no. He stated that Key Benefit would take care of the
administration of all claims and payments. Clerk Dozier asked if people would be taken out of the selffunded
plan and put in the market place or on Medicaid. They replied that anyone on the self-funded
would remain on the plan and not be farmed out.
Mr. Ray is present for most of the explanation of the self-funded plan.
Clerk Dozier stated that she had some reservations about self –funded because the County was
involved in a plan in the 90’s and it ended badly. The County was half million dollars in debt before they
could move back with a major carrier. She stated that before the ink was dry on the paperwork that the
County had 3 individuals with cancer and with each year the carve- out for those individuals increased.
Mr. Ray stated that he was on the Egyptian Health Department board and they went with a self-funded
plan for two years it was fine but the third year the carve out on an individual had increased and that
was the first time he had heard the terminology carve out.
Clerk Dozier and the Board are also concerned about the Presidential Election and what the
landscape will look like as far as the Affordable Care Act. Mr. Kelly and Mr. Smith explained that with
Clinton the act with some tweaking would be in place, with Trump it could be tweaked but it would take
at least a whole term to dismantle it.
The Board stated that they need time to digest all the information. They said they had currently
renewed with Blue Cross/Blue Shield with an August 1, 2016 start date. They stated that if they decided
to go into the self-funded plan they would be in touch.
Mr. Dosher made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Usery. Motion carried 4-0-1 on roll call
vote. Mr. Ray had to leave the meeting early.
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