Milford Navigates Health Care Reform
Representatives from Frazzetta Financial Services Inc. spoke to the Milford Town Council during its regular meeting Dec. 9 about the health care reform and the town’s current group health insurance, which is with Medical Mutual of Ohio.
Anthony Frazzetta, president of Frazzetta Financial Services, stated that Medical Mutual of Ohio is pulling out of Indiana, but would keep the group insurance until renewal — July 2014 — and then it would be gone. The town of Milford would then be forced to meet mandates set for small businesses as a part of the new health care reform.
While some insurance providers are agreeing to extend group insurance plans through to December 2014, Medical Mutual is not since they want out of Indiana.
United Healthcare, however, has agreed to pick up the town now. The switch would bring a slight reduction in cost for the town, however, employees deductibles would increase to $3,000 from $2,500 for individuals and $6,000 from $5,000 for families.
With the switch, the town would have until mid-December 2014 to consider options without having to meet new mandates.
Frazzetta noted that at this point there is still a lot of uncertainty in regards to the Affordable Care Act with talk about postponing certain mandates. He stated that the United Healthcare quote was a good one.
After discussion and questions from employees, council members approved the switch to United Healthcare.
In other council news:
- The voluntary annexation of parcels belonging to CTB was approved after the acceptance of the fiscal plan, which showed no projected additional cost to the town.
- Milford Police received a $500 grant to purchase a portable breath tester. Additionally, the council approved the purchase of a Panasonic Toughbook at $1,680.65 for the department.
- Work on the lift stations have been completed, and the tests for the waterline are looking good. Utilities superintendent Randy Veach stated they should be able to start hooking people up soon.
- Veach asked permission to start advertising for a new sewer plant operator. Until someone is found, he asked permission for Mike Clark to work part-time. The motion was approved.
- A pay increase of 2 percent for town employees was approved with the option to revisit the increase in six months.
Milford Town Council will be holding an end of the year meeting at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 27.