$32M in employee insurance, unemployment contracts approved

NORRISTOWN » More than $32 million in contracts related to 2021 benefits and coverage for county employees were approved during a recent Montgomery County Commissioners meeting.

Commitments for nine agreements, which total $32,141,800 were reached during the Oct. 29 session, which offered provisions ranging from medical insurance to unemployment compensation.

County of f icials used The Trion Group, a Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC, of King of Prussia, to “determine which insurance provider can provide the best insurance for the lowest reasonable cost,” according to contracts. The King of Prussia-based firm also conducted negotiations with participating companies.

The largest ticket item was a $28.8 million agreement between the county’ s human resources department and In dependence Blue Cross, of Philadelphia, for a “medical insurance premium.”

The deal, which would “provide medical insurance to county employees and their families,” re - sulted in the county having to pay $25.8 million, while employees would cover the remaining $3 million, according to the contract.

An agreement not exceeding $2.2 million with Aetna Inc., of Hartford, Conn. provided for “dental insurance” for “county employees and their families.” According to the contract, the county would be responsible for $1,822,000 and employees would contribute $378,000.

Additionally, of f icials authorized a contract for vision insurance for 2021 with Eyemed Vision Care, of Mason, Ohio. The agreement would not exceed $5,000.

With respect to additional insurance coverage, county of f icia ls authorized $360,000 with The Hartford Life Insurance Co., of Hartford, Conn., for life and long term disability insurance for the upcoming year. The contract has two separate policies: $190,000 for life insurance and $170,000 for long term disability insurance.

The count y ’s human resources department offered health advocacy and employee support services for 2021, according to the contract. The agreement with Health Advocate Inc., of Plymouth Meeting would not exceed $61,800.

The county’s human resources department designated $700,000 for unemployment compensation

“The County of Montgomery provides its employees with various forms of benefits, including unemployment compensation in qualifying circumstances ,” the contract stated.

The six-figure agreement, not exceeding more than $700,000, between the county and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor would cover “unemployment compensation coverage” for 2021, according to the contract.

Additionally, a $15,000 agreement was approved with the Talx Corp., of St. Louis, Mo., in order to provide an “administration service for unemployment compensation claims,” according to the contract.