DuPage workers to see health care cost hikes

People on the payroll in DuPage County will be paying a little more for their medical coverage next year.

Facing health insurance cost increases of more than $993,000 for fiscal 2010, the county's Finance Committee agreed this month to look for ways to share the bite. Cara Perrone, director of the human resources department, this week presented to the County Board a collection of changes in the program designed to cushion some of the added expense that brought the shortfall down to about $61,000.

The adjustment didn't come without extended discussion on the County Board level, nor without the prospect of health care costs reaching deeper into staff pockets.

Most of the added expense next year will be offset by increasing the share of health care's costs paid by each employee. The roughly 500 employees who are covered by the Blue Cross preferred-provider option will see 25 percent increases in their deductibles, now $600 per person, and their out-of-pocket expense caps, which are currently $2,000 annually. Those on the PPO plan also will pay 20 percent of the bill for in-network providers, instead of 10 percent. All of those who receive coverage will pay from $15 to $50 of the cost of their prescription drugs.

The employees who have Blue Advantage health maintenance organization coverage, who outnumber the PPO policy holders by about four to one, won't see cost increases, but their share of the premium will go up by $10 per month.

"It's almost like the HMO got lucky this year," said Finance Committee chairman Paul Fichtner, who represents District 1. "There was no increase."

Several County Board members were uncomfortable with taking more from the workers' wallets.

John Zediker, District 5 representative from Naperville, acknowledged the county is not alone in looking for ways to counter budget woes. He cited the Naperville City Council's decision this week to pave the way for a property tax rate increase and reduced compensation outlays, to shrink a budget gap of more than $14 million.

Workers everywhere are living on stagnant incomes, District 6 representative Linda Kurzawa noted.

"I think in a year when people are not getting a raise ... there's no justification" for the HMO premium increase, she said. "I realize you're sending a message, but it's a really bad year to send a message."

James Zay, also from District 6 and the only member of the board to vote against the plan changes, echoed Kurzawa's unease.

"I guess we can tell the employees, 'It's not an increase to you, but I hope you and your family don't get sick,'" Zay said.