Health Insurance

tarar@herald-mail.com Most Washington County municipalities don't reimburse employees who opt out of their health insurance plan, officials said this week. At least two municipalities - Hancock and Hagerstown - do offer that choice. Hancock employees who choose not to receive health insurance provided by the town are given monthly checks that cover what they would pay if they had the insurance. As of July 1, 2001, the health insurance premium was $251 a month. Hancock Mayor Daniel A. Murphy and Councilman David Smith said Friday the practice is common among businesses.

City eyes health plan cost savings By DAN KULIN dank@herald-mail.com The Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday supported changes intended to save the city money on health insurance coverage for some employees and retirees. But City Administrator Bruce Zimmerman said they don't know how much money any changes could save. The city's health plans are being looked at because of rising costs. City Finance Director Al Martin said health insurance costs were about $2.9 million last year, and are expected to be about $4 million this year.

State businesses should be prepared for major changes in health benefit policies regardless of the outcome of a U.S. Supreme Court case challenging federal health care reform, a Maryland Chamber of Commerce official warned Wednesday. “Even if parts of the federal law were struck down - if the individual mandate were struck down - I think the Maryland General Assembly would very likely step in and put similar requirements in place here in the state of Maryland,” said Ronald Wineholt, the state chamber's vice president for government affairs.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com Union workers at Good Humor-Breyer's Ice Cream Inc. on Friday turned down the latest company offer for a new contract by a 296-88 vote, the president of the local union said. It was unknown at press time if the workers would go on strike with the start of the regular midnight shift. "The plant was closed for part of the day Friday for the vote, but it's supposed to open again for the midnight shift," said Larry Lorshbaugh, president of Local 9386 of the United Steelworkers of America.

By DAVE McMILLION Staff Writer, Martinsburg MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller will visit a local health clinic Friday to talk about the need to increase health insurance for children. There are about 10 million children in the country and about 50,000 in West Virginia without health insurance, according to Rockefeller. "Uninsured children don't get the health care they need. They don't have regular doctor visits. They don't get their immunizations," Rockefeller said.

Individuals whose membership will be terminated by Medi-Care First, the Blue Cross/Blue Shield HMO, should plan to attend a seminar on Wednesday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Elks Club on Robinwood Drive in Hagerstown. If you have not made a decision about your health insurance coverage for Jan. 1, 2000, you will benefit greatly by attending this informational seminar. Individuals who joined an HMO and have never used their Medicare benefits will learn how "original" Medicare works during this seminar, sponsored by Washington County Commission on Aging and Medicare Part B. Individuals who will be turning 65, or those who will become eligible for Medicare benefits in the near future, also would benefit by information that will be provided at this seminar.

Some supporters of the nation's new health care law insist that its critics are motivated solely by politics and have no good reason for their opposition. In fact, serious critics have raised many legitimate concerns about the law, which is formally called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and more commonly called Obamacare. I've wanted to write about those concerns for some time, but health care policy is complex and such a discussion can't be condensed into a single column.

When Katie Covington graduates from Shepherd University, obtaining health insurance will be at the top of her to-do list. Covington, of Richmond, Va., saw first-hand what can happen to a recent college graduate who gets sick and doesn't have health insurnace. "I had a friend who had appendicitis two weeks after being dropped from his parents' insurance and he had to cover the medical costs himself," said Covington, who is a senior at Shepherd. "Health insurance is a huge priority for me. " Young adults between the ages of 19 and 29 make up the largest demographic of uninsured Americans.

P.J. O'Rourke once observed that "giving power and money to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. " As I watch the fiasco unwind in regard to health insurance for uninsured Americans, I can't help but have some concerns. If you agree that everyone should have health insurance then there needs to be a remedy to the problem. That said, how do we best resolve this matter? What is the fix? Our government's solution is an 1,110-page bill. They would have you believe it is a simple fix that can be paid for by eliminating waste and taxing the rich.

Waynesboro Area School District teachers on Wednesday rejected two “bottom-line” proposals, continuing a contract impasse that has lasted for almost two years. The Waynesboro Area School Board developed the proposals Tuesday based on sessions mediated by a former superintendent of another school district. Board members rejected the actual written proposal from the mediation because they said it was inaccurate, but they did pass two possible agreements onto the teachers union.