Married county workers ask for insurance merger

Faced with skyrocketing costs for medical insurance, a married couple, both of whom work for the county, Monday asked commissioners to let them combine their insurance benefits.

Currently, the county requires each employee enroll in an insurance plan.

Rates for the county’s insurance plans have skyrocketed this year, with monthly enrollment fees increasing $95 to $1,128 over this year’s rates.

That increase hits double for couples like Chad and Tina Kincheloe who both work for the public works department.

“It is a sad day when the employees of the county have to take on a second job just so we can pay for our insurance that is such a ‘great’ benefit from our county job,” Tina Kincheloe wrote in an e-mail to commissioners.

Employees that insure their families pay in excess of $1,000 more per month than employees that insure just themselves.

The Kincheloes have opted not to insure their children because of the cost.

Monday, they asked commissioners to allow one spouse to opt out of the insurance plan so the other could pay for the family insurance.

The move would save duplicate monthly insurance payments from the couple. Insurance costs for 2011 plans range from $678 to $1,827 per month.

The Kincheloes also asked commissioners for permission to use the county’s insurance contribution for each of them to pay for the insurance.

The county contributes $653 per month toward employee insurance costs.

Commissioners said they would look into the change and make a decision next week.

“We’re turning over every rock to help our employees with this huge insurance change,” said Commissioner Greg Partch, who estimated eight married couples work for the county.

Commissioner Michael Largent said they will have to consider possible complaints from other single employees who may view the move to allow two employees to combine contributions to a single insurance plan as unfair.

Rates for the Washington Counties Insurance Fund took a drastic jump this year after the pool organization moved to increase rates to catch up with cost increases from providers.