Fayette to decide on medical insurance provider for staff

The Fayette County Commission is expected to switch its medical insurance administration provider for the county’s self-insurance plan for county employees.

In 2010 the county chose to go the self-insured route, which sets aside funding for claims which are processed by a third party.

For the coming plan year, the county is expected to switch from Meritain to Humana, which had the lowest bid by $592,000. A formal decision is expected at the county commission meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. at the county’s Stonewall government complex in downtown Fayetteville.

The county had some $6.5 million in claims and paid $1.013 million in administrative fees from June 1, 2010 through May 31, 2011. This year claims are projected to rise to $7.28 million with the administrative fees ending at $1.09 million.

Humana’s offer includes a two-year rate guarantee. Also, the switch in networks can be made with no change to the doctors currently being used by county employees, officials have said.