Houston County cancels long-term care insurance for employees

Citing declining revenues and increased expenses, Houston County Commissioners voted Monday morning to cancel the long-term care insurance provided to the county’s 438 employees.

The county has been paying the benefit, but officials said the budget cannot sustain the annual expense of $180,000. The core benefit has been free to employees, with less than 10 employees opting for additional supplemental insurance.

“We are trying to cut expenses and take care of employees,” Chairman Mark Culver said. “This benefit, put on last year, is a costly benefit. It is a good thing for our employees to have, but honestly, in talking to them, they would rather have us do everything we can in COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments) as opposed to this benefit.”

Some commissioners and department heads said there have been some instances where employees could not use the insurance when they needed it. The insurance, Personnel Director Sheri Stephenson said, was not what they thought it was.

“A couple of employees needed it and were not eligible to take advantage of it. A lot of money was being spent and we were not getting what we thought,” Stephenson said. “Employees said money in their pocket every week is more beneficial.

“There are very, very few companies that offer this to their employees and pay the cost. Right now people are worried about taking care of their families and paying for gas.”

Culver said a lot of governments are struggling. He surveyed other counties and found that Montgomery and Pike are not giving cost of living raises this year. Elmore and Lee counties will give 2.5 percent. Culver said he hopes the county can give more than that.

“A lot of counties are struggling to keep the employees they have,” Culver said. “We want to keep the equipment in road and bridge operating. This (cancellation of insurance) is a piece of that (ability to increase wages).”

Any employees who wants to continue the insurance can pay the benefit. Rates vary depending on age. The county hopes to drop the insurance by the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1.