Court discusses insurance

Court discusses insurance Brian Smith Wed, 03/20/2024 - 7:09 am   Jack County Precinct 4 Commissioner Terry Ward, left, listens to Rodney Dryden of HUB International on recent health insurance issues with the county during the Monday, March 11 meeting. Photo/Brian Smith Jack County Commissioners met with HUB International representatives on a lapse in county employee health insurance as part of the March 11 meeting. Chairman of the county Health and Safety Committee and Precinct 3 Commissioner Henry Birdwell, Jr. said he received a text Feb. 6 that the county health insurance would be terminated that morning. Birdwell worked with Assistant County Auditor Kim Dungan and HUB Representative Rodney Dryden on getting insurance reinstated for the county which it was about a week later. Dryden, an independent insurance agent, said the problems started with the county and United Health Insurance having a difference in opinion on what was being owed. The county began using United in October and had issues with names being spelled wrong or wrong people being on the plan which took about three months to clean up. Letters from United on termination began being sent Jan. 19, saying if payment of $74,500 was not made by Jan. 31, the policy would be terminated Feb. 1. Along said only one letter was received and no emails which United later recanted and said were not sent. With the three months of adjustments and credits through December, Dungan thought the credits were being made by United and the $74,500 was the wrong amount. “I saw one number to be paid and (United) saw another in January,” Duncan noted. Dryden said he knew nothing about the cancellation until United contacted him in early February. “My goal is to support you and to give the best customer service,” Dryden said. “If a client is told they’re being terminated, you need to tell me.” Dryden said the county is saving approximately $130,000 from last year when the county was with Texas Association of Counties. He told the court April 1 will me the mid year analysis where he will speak with United about some of the issues and things to be adjusted for the 2024-25 budget year, including possibly going back to Texas Association of Counties. It is also the start of the County budgeting process for 2024-25. Jack County Judge Keith Umphress asked Dryden if a Health Reimbursement Account could be created for county employees and was told it could. Birdwellsaidhespoke with county employees in mid-February about their thoughts on the insurance and was told many thought they were paying more out of pocket for specialists and had issues with names not being right on those needing insurance.