The Chase County Commission opened bids and heard presentations on Oct. 31 for workers-compensation and employee health-insurance coverage.

For workers-compensation, county staff opened sealed bids and read amounts into the record. The KWORK pool bid was $54,075; a local agent representing EMC Insurance submitted an alternative proposal of $78,228. Commissioners said they would review the proposals and make a decision at a later meeting after confirming payroll figures and ensuring an apples'to'apples comparison.

KWORK representatives described their membership pool and safety-consulting services, noting no history of assessments against members and offering training and loss-prevention services. A local agent said EMC has insured Kansas entities for decades, emphasized EMC's financial strength and local service and noted that commercial carriers do not assess clients.

On major-medical coverage, brokers from Freedom Claims presented a "Freedom Choice" funding model and illustrations. Blue Cross Blue Shield and other carriers explained plan designs and cost-saving tools for high-cost specialty drugs, network breadth and potential funding options. Presenters showed several funding scenarios that combined carrier premiums, administrative fees and reserve contributions; examples included a Blue Cross scenario with a projected overall increase lower than the UnitedHealthcare renewal when reserve funding was included.

Commissioners asked staff to give UnitedHealthcare an opportunity to respond to competitor pricing and to bring final enrollment figures and funding options back at the Nov. 10 or Nov. 17 meeting; some commissioners said they would seek a decision by mid-November. Staff noted that workers'comp premium audits are payroll'based and adjustments can occur after-year audit.