By Austin R. Eck —
County officials approved a new group medical plan with prescription drug coverage through the Texas Association of Counties Health and Employee Benefits pool during a regular season on Monday, July 28.
Gillespie’s commissioners approved the decision in a 3-2 vote.
The new policy gives employees the option to pick from 10 different types of plans to help cover their and their families’ needs.
“We have a wide range of ages in our employees, and it is very difficult to come up with a ‘one size fits all’ solution, which is what the current health plan tried to do,” said county judge Mark Stroeher who voted in favor of the new option.
The new plan also allows for certain employees to use a health savings account to help cover medical expenses without paying income tax on them if made for approved expenses.
However, this new plan has been used by few counties in the state.
“I would have rather have another county be under that program for one year and look at the issues and problems,” county commissioner Donnie Schuch said.
Schuch and commissioner Billy Roeder voted against adopting the new plan.
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