AWC is checking in with cities across the state and discovering what members think about the benefits of the Employee Benefit Trust.
We sat down with Debi Young, Human Resources Director for the City of Lakewood, for a brief chat to discuss her city’s participation in the AWC Employee Benefit Trust.
Give us a brief history of your city’s employee health benefits program.
Lakewood incorporated in 1996. We started our benefit package with the Trust in 1997 with Regence and the Group Health $5 copay plan. As our needs changed over the years, the Trust gave us options. In 2004, we added WDS Dental Plan F. The city changed to the PPO medical plan and the Group Health $10 plan in 2005. In 2007, we added WDS Plan F for one department and Willamette Dental as an option for everyone. The latest switch – in 2011, we dropped Regence Plan B and changed to AWC HealthFirst Plan.
Have you been able to work with the Trust to find creative benefit solutions that work for the city?
Yes. We try to be responsive to our employees by having different dental coverage and benefit plans by union group. It’s been great to have more than one medical and dental choice. We’ve since changed our second dental option, but it was a good option for the city at the time, and it was a positive for the employees too. The Trust has been open to change, keeping the integrity of the plans and meeting our needs.
The High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account gives employees another choice in health benefits. You have several employees choosing this option. How has that been working?
The comments have been positive, and it seems to be a popular plan for our younger employees. I wish we’d had this option for years. It’s nice to know if they don’t use all the money in the HSA they can roll it over to use later.
Is the Trust responsive to the benefit needs at city hall?
Yes. The Trust has always been extremely responsive, talking to different employee groups even when there haven’t been any major changes. The employees really like the Trust staff – how much they know about benefits and the face to face interaction. We’ve had some horrendous issues, with our four slain police officers. The Trust was very responsive to that situation, and in getting those families on COBRA.
When our health plan committee was looking at options, Trust staff made sure the employees understood completely what benefits they have with the Trust. The plans are so good and versatile, we couldn’t find anything that compares. With the High Deductible Health Plan with Health Savings Account, the AWC HealthFirst Plan and Group Health, you meet everyone’s needs – whether they are a full family, have grown children, are single, or empty nesters. We have different plan options that fit where they are in their life.
Your city earned AWC’s WellCity Award, earning a 2% premium discount in 2012. Can you tell us about this?
The WellCity Award and the 2% discount was a great incentive for electeds to understand how important the wellness program is, especially when funds are tight. It’s always difficult to show wellness outcomes – savings on medical costs, and how being proactive and taking care of yourself before you have medical problems makes a difference. We know that staying healthy can prevent future disease. The discount helps our policy makers find the value in wellness today, and understand that it’s a long term commitment in savings. We’ll be saving roughly $70,000 on our premiums. That’s substantial.
About Lakewood
Lakewood, population 58,840 is conveniently located between Seattle and Olympia. It is the host community to Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Camp Murray. It is home to several beautiful lakes and wonderful historic treasures such as Fort Steilacoom Park, Lakewold Gardens, and Thornewood Castle. For more information, visit www.cityoflakewood.us.
Contact:
Debra Young
Human Resources Director
City of Lakewood
(253) 983-7709
dyoung@cityoflakewood.us