Board to Meet in Insurance Debate

For the first time in the ongoing debate over health insurance for county employees, the Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to meet with representatives from unions and insurance companies.

The supervisors agreed to hold the study session at 7 a.m. Monday to compare proposals after union representatives asked for an open discussion.

“We just need to get everything up front and out in the open,” Supervisor Maria VanderKolk said.

The debate began when the county announced that rates with the present insurance carrier, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., were expected to increase significantly.

A coalition of county unions then proposed a health insurance plan through Blue Cross of California.

On Tuesday, Ronald Komers, director of the county’s personnel department, announced that a third possible carrier, Foundation Health Corp., had given the county a bid with rates lower than the union’s proposal.

Komers would not disclose the rates, saying they were not yet final. The Foundation plan and offers from at least three other companies are expected to be presented during the supervisors’ study session Monday.

Union officials criticized the Foundation proposal, saying the company was on shaky ground financially after losing a major account. A committee of labor and management officials rejected the Foundation plan Oct. 25 because, “the Foundation appears to be in financial difficulty, or at least flux,” according to the minutes from the meeting.

Komers said the Rancho Cordova-based company is stable.

“We are no longer concerned, but Foundation Health Corp. will address the issue on Monday,” he said.