WCIF presents to Commissioners

COLFAX — The Whitman County Commissioners met Monday, May 8, for their 9 a.m. meeting.

The meeting started with a guest presenter Washington County Insurance Fund (WCIF) Executive Director Bobby Jackson, who spoke on Washington’s Insurance Fund.

Jackson stated that WCIF is grateful to be able to provide the county with health plan benefits.

“We have fifteen of your employees enrolled, Premera,” Jackson said, following with that 147 are enrolled in Kaiser Permanente, 177 employees enrolled in Delta Dental, eighteen enrolled in Willamette Dental, and 150 in a business service plan.

Jackson also mentioned 210 county employees enrolled in the standard life and disability plans and six in the new Rehn and Associates Plan with a health savings account.

He spoke about working with Rehn and Associates, a local company out of Spokane, explaining that in 2022 they had been arranging a partnership to arrange spending arrangements, health savings accounts, and health reimbursement accounts.

“We’re so glad to be able to do business with a Washington-based company,” he said.

Jackson stated that he had to report in the first quarter of 2023 and that the partnership proved very efficient.

“We have been working on keeping the efficiency moving forward,” he said, noting that Rehn and Associates have been a pleasure to work with.

Jackson explained that last year WCIF was able to expand its license to include a profit casualty allowing them to partner with Metlife this year to offer pet insurance to their groups this month.

He explained that Metlife presented to them, sharing that they would provide coverage, including accidents and illnesses, medications, hospitalizations, surgeries, emergency care, and more.

Jackson mentioned that stepping into the veterinarian’s office if animals have serious issues can cost a lot of money.

“We are only offering coverage for dogs and cats,” Jackson mentioned, adding that they are working for exotic, which would include horses and other animals.

“That is coming, can’t tell you exactly when we have to work that out with the state of Washington,” he said.

Commissioner Art Swannack mentioned that pet insurance might make veterinary care like human care, to which Jackson responded that he was exactly right. Still, the way that they’re doing insurance at the moment is on a reimbursement basis. Which he further stated is working well.

In asking questions, commissioners wanted more transparent communication between the insurance companies and the county, mentioning that they had information late from Kaiser Permanente at one point.

Jackson stated they have been working with the companies on communication and are pleased to share and work with the Whitman County commissioners moving forward.