Refugio County employees left without county health insurance
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REFUGIO - Efforts to wrangle in a new health insurance company to cover Refugio County employees were unsuccessful.
The county's solution is to increase employee salaries at least $600 to cover the individual cost of purchasing insurance.
Verity National, the insurance company that covered the county for the past 15 years, could not meet the county's high claims. Other major insurers, such as Humana, UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross/Blue Shield, also did not want to cover the county because of the high claims, said Ann Lopez, county commissioner Precinct 1.
"It's not a situation that any of us wanted," Lopez said. "But it's also one that we could not find a solution to."
The high claims were beginning to deplete the county's reserves, she said.
Hopes are for county employees to use the extra income to purchase health insurance, though it's not required, she said.
"People started aging and getting sick and that began to impact the whole plan significantly," Lopez said.
County employees received letters with information about other health insurance companies and the county is doing what it can to help ease the burden, Lopez said.
The county is expected to approve its budget and the exact increase in salaries for the county employees on Sept. 13.
"It's a very difficult decision," she said.
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Good luck hiring or retaining employees of any quality, Refugio County.
September 3, 2011 at 12:30 p.m.knight,
Sure, I've been in that postition and I've been without health insurence a time or two. I've even had to go to John Sealy for free medical care for my son when he was small, but in the 32 years since I've given birth to those kids, I've been to the ER exactly twice. ER's are for emergencies, which is why they call them "emergency rooms". Emergency doctors are on call for those extreme emergencies, not sore throats, coughs, and other non-emergencies.
September 2, 2011 at 9:36 a.m.I do work. So I guess than automatically means I have enough money for everything I need, really? Have you ever have to pick which bills got paid?
September 2, 2011 at 8:07 a.m.knight,
Those who need to get creative to survive usually wouldn't come on a public venue and brag about it, or try to teach others "how to" buck the system. You come across as cocky and a cheater/user by nature.
September 1, 2011 at 11:31 p.m.$600 per month, per employee? If so, what a windfall!! I found myself voluntarily without employer coverage recently, and purchased a high deductible policy for $239 per month for two 50+ yo. I then negotiated and paid for "out of pocket" expenses to the tune of another $200 per month on average.
Sorry, Blan. You are incorrect.
September 1, 2011 at 10:43 p.m.knight, has it ever occurred to you that you should work to pay for your own survival?
September 1, 2011 at 10:28 p.m.Did it ever occur to you that with no money sometimes you have to get creative to survive?
September 1, 2011 at 6:11 p.m.knight,
You're either joking, trying to start something, or it's actually the way you think. In all three instances, it's rather sad.
September 1, 2011 at 5:54 p.m.I don't see what the big deal is really, I pay taxes too.
September 1, 2011 at 4:35 p.m.Knight - somewhat free to you - but it is paid for - by tax payers. Glad you are enjoying the health care I help to provide.
September 1, 2011 at 2:44 p.m.knight,
Sorry, I have more honor than that. I never took anything from anyone, unless I earned it.
September 1, 2011 at 2:43 p.m.Sign whatever they put in front of you. They can't come after you for medical expenses. Plus in Tx they can't slam you're credit. Do your homework, find the loopholes, and enjoy you're free healthcare. You're welcome.
September 1, 2011 at 11:15 a.m.Going to the ER is not free for anyone except those who do not have an address and cannot be "found"
September 1, 2011 at 10:45 a.m.Everytime I've found myself without insurence and had to go to the ER, I had to agree to, and sign, a payment plan.
where is all the traffic ticket / drug revenue / car confiscation money going in that county ?
biggest speed trap in the state.
September 1, 2011 at 9:41 a.m.'pocket the $600 and go to the ER" * sigh *
Thanks for being a poster child for the problem...
September 1, 2011 at 9:14 a.m.I say pocket the $600 and go to the ER!
September 1, 2011 at 4:57 a.m.Blan,
Yes, I should have clarified this in the story; my apologies. Thank you for reading.
September 1, 2011 at 2:05 a.m.Is that $600 a month? It'll cost at least that much to buy individual insurance.
August 31, 2011 at 11:11 p.m.It's that gosh darn Mexican restaurant we all love so much
August 31, 2011 at 7:29 p.m.