Travis County Commssioners Court
June 29, 2004
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Item 5
Number 5 is to discuss and take appropriate action on recommendations for employee benefits committee on county fy '05 employee retirement and retiree group benefits premiums, including rate plan option three as the health care plan for fy 2005. The co-insured epo plan as the default coverage for employees who do not complete open enrollment. A 30 day waiting period for health insurance coverage for all new hires beginning October 1, 2004 nation of nurse line and option two of the vision plan to the county's benefits package at zero cost to the county. E, renewal of contract with safeguard dental through September of 2007 with a three percent rate increase in fy 2005 only. F, extension of basic life insurance contract with unum and amendment of contract to eliminate waiver of premium. And g, a three-year contract with unum for supplemental life, dependent life and retiree life. Two, short-term disability and three, long-term disability on the same terms as current contract except for term, waiver of premium on life coverages and rates.
>> .
>> [one moment, please, for change in captioners]
>> .
>> if any employee has any question on what their rates would be, open enrollment starts July 21st or they can call hrmd and ask for cindy peerington or any of the benefits staff and they will be able to provide the information.
>> didn't we approve that last time?
>> you approved it to get it out to the employees, then we have the employee hearing and then we come back for final approval after the -- we hear from employees. For their input.
>> move approval.
>> [inaudible].
>> any more discussion? All in favor say aye. That passes by unanimous vote.
>> the next is just approval of the co-insured for employees who do not --
>> motion.
>> second.
>> let's make sure we get that out to employees so they will know [indiscernible]. Any more discussion? All in favor say aye. That passes by unanimous vote.
>> c is approval of a 30-day waiting period for health insurance coverage for all new hires beginning October 1, 2004. And that will be a 30-day waiting period. It could be up to 59 days if an employee comes on, say, the 2nd of the month, and this is a precautionary measure that was recommended by the employee benefits committee.
>> move approval.
>> second.
>> make sure we understand that.
>> and we will cover it --
>> it is a minimum of 30 days.
>> yes, sir.
>> if you start in the middle of the month, 30 days starts running at the binge of the next month.
>> the first of the month following a full 30 days.
>> and we will cover that during the employee orientation so it's clear.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> approval of renewal of a contract with safeguard dental through September of -- I'm sorry, d, approval of addition of nurseline and a vision plan to the county's benefit package.
>> option 2.
>> I say at zero cost to county. That's right.
>> that's correct.
>> move approval.
>> second.
>> discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> e is approval of renewal of a contract with safeguard dental through September of 2008 with a 3% -- 2007, okay, 2007 with a 3% increase. And that is a 3% increase for all three years.
>> move approval.
>> second.
>> discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> f is approval of extension of basic life insurance contract with unum and amendment of contract to eliminate waiver of premium and this is a one-year extension.
>> move approval.
>> this is -- okay, basic life, that's what the county provides?
>> yes, that's what the county pays for, $25,000.
>> and employees will still have the option to purchase additional insurance as previously --
>> supplemental insurance, yes, sir.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> g, approval of preparation of a three-year contract with unum corporation for supplemental life, dependent life, retiree life, short-term disability and long-term disability on the same terms as current contract except for term, waiver of premium on life coverages and rates. And this is a supplemental life that employees can buy for spouses, children, dependents and the significant improve is the retiree life will double at no cost -- no increased cost to the retiree from 10,000 to 20,000 and if they are eligible they can purchase another $20,000 worth of life insurance.
>> move approval.
>> second.
>> purchase long-term disability will be advised of the waiver of premium on life coverage.
>> yes.
>> elimination [indiscernible].
>> at the time that they purchase the long-term disability.
>> it's real "the life insurance.
>> it's the premium on the -- the waiver is strictly for life insurance premium. So anyone becoming -- who has supplemental life who becomes disabled would have qualified for that. We had relatively few people who took advantage of that or had the qualification to meet that requirement and so we recommended -- we are recommending that the waiver of premium for life insurance be eliminated.
>> okay. Is there a motion? There?
>> second.
>> discussion? All in favor say aye. That passes by unanimous vote. Does that do it?
>> yes.
>> thanks for all the work.
>> thank you. This process has gotten easier over the years and we appreciate your support and of course all the employees that serve on the benefits committee. It's been -- they attend very long meetings and really put a lot of thought into the work that is presented to the court.
>> got some volunteers.
>> and we do want to remind everyone open enrollment is July 21st through August 20th. Everyone has to complete open enrollment or they default the co-insured e.p.o.
>> even if they are declining insurance.
>> they still have to complete all 10 steps.
Last Modified: Wednesday, June 30, 2004 9:28 AM