City Council to discuss health insurance proposals

Insurance costs are bringing the Aragon City Council together for discussions about how who they will be taking on group health coverage for employees.

Special work sessions have been called on Monday, Sept. 11 and Monday, Sept. 18 in order to discuss four different proposals from companies who wish to take on Aragon’s health insurance coverage.

Mayor Garry Baldwin said the proposals were worth discussing since picking one will then require negotiations to get underway in an effort to bring down the cost of coverage overall. Both work sessions will be held at city hall and begin at 6 p.m.

It’s hoped that once they pick a plan, Baldwin will be able to go back and talk the company down on the overall cost of increases, the same as other cities in the area who have sought to bring down expected increases in how much local municipalities are spending to provide health care coverage to their employees.

Increases are expected this year for everyone who purchases insurance, whether it be a business or government looking to cover their employees or individuals who will have a more difficult time finding providers and plans, since increasingly companies who sell health insurance are pulling out of individual state markets.

No decision will be made yet on the plan that Aragon chooses in their upcoming Sept. 21 council meeting, Baldwin said.