GT Board to still get free health insurance

By BRIAN McGILLIVARY
bmcgillivary@record-eagle.com

October 31, 2008 12:00 am

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INTERLOCHEN -- A majority of Grand Traverse County's part-time commissioners flip-flopped on a previous vote to enact co-pays for their taxpayer-funded health insurance and decided to continue to receive free family health insurance.

Commissioners met at a non-televised stop in Green Lake Township on Wednesday and voted 5 to 4 to fend off a proposal that they pay 2 percent of their health care costs.

"It's unbelievable, isn't it," said Commissioner Larry Inman, who voted against the measure. "There's got to be a point in time that we begin to pay a portion of our health insurance. Everybody else has to pay for it."

Other county-elected officials and non-union employees pay 10 percent of their health care costs.

Commissioners Larry Fleis, Bruce Hooper, board Chairman Addison Wheelock Jr., Dick Thomas and Margaret Underwood voted for commissioners to receive full, taxpayer-funded health insurance, as opposed to a 2-percent co-pay plan.

Underwood is not running for re-election and will leave the commission by year's end. Wheelock and Thomas previously supported the co-pay.

"I didn't feel I could vote for a co-pay on something that didn't affect me," said Wheelock, who doesn't accept the health insurance. "Without raises, I couldn't justify it."

Commissioners in September adopted a 4-percent co-pay for 2009 and 8 percent in 2010, while increasing their salaries 25 percent over three years. On Oct. 21 they cited the poor economy in a decision to drop the raises plan, but they retained the co-pay portion of the package.

Commissioners earn a $7,000 annual salary plus per diems for meeting attendance that average about $6,000 a year.

Inman said it was clear Wednesday night the 4-percent co-pay wouldn't pass. He joined Commissioner Christine Maxbauer to propose the failed 2-percent co-pay that would cost a commissioner with single coverage about $3 for every two-week pay period. Commissioners with full family coverage would contribute about $9 per pay period.

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