JPS to eye insurance policy revision

The Garland County Quorum Court on Monday will consider an ordinance which would establish written policies regarding the payment of insurance premiums by county retirees or those on medical leave.

The proposed ordinance stipulates that “a retiring county official or county employee may elect to continue to participate in the county health care plan if they are at least 55 years old and vested in the county division of the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System, have 30 or more years of actual service in the county division of APERS regardless of age, or if they have at least 35 years

of credited service in the county division of APERS regardless of age. They must also pay the entire health care plan premium.”

The proposed ordinance states that the coverage retirees are entitled to retain is the same as that of active employees.

“If the county health care plan includes dental, vision, life insurance and dependent coverage, such coverage may be retained by the retiree as long as they pay the entire premium,” the proposed ordinance states.

The ordinance also states that county employees taking Family Medical Leave or Occupational Injury Leave shall also be required to pay his or her share of the premiums for dependent health, dental, life or any other supplemental coverage the employee has active for the duration of leave.

The ordinance would require the payment of premiums to Garland County by the 15th of each calendar month prior to the actual month’s coverage.

“Should the premium not be received by the last calendar day of the preceding month, all coverages will be canceled immediately,” the ordinance states.

Under the ordinance, the county clerk’s office would not send monthly written notifications to retirees or employees on leave as reminders of premiums due.

“This shall be the sole responsibility of the retiree or employee,” the ordinance states.

County Clerk Sarah Smith said the written notification system “puts me in a position to feel like a debt collector.”

“If we have it in writing, that won’t be the case. I don’t really want to do that and there’s no reason to,” she said. “That’s the main purpose for it.”