Healthier County Workers? Close Gyms, Jersey Fresh

CREST HAVEN — Cape May County’s health insurance sounds like a throwback to the days of 35-cent Sunday newspapers and nickel candy bars. It almost sounds too good to be true, but it is true for county employees, at least for the present.
According to County Counsel and Human Resource Director Barbara Bakley-Marino, co-pay for covered employees is $5 for visits to primary care physicians, urgent care centers and specialists. Emergency rooms visits are $35, unless the patient is admitted. Prescription co-pay on three tiers is zero for Tier 1, $8 for Tier 2 and $12 for Tier 3 for 30 days supply.
“That’s our plan,” she told freeholders Tue., Feb.14.
That package of health insurance was secured by bargaining unit members, and “has been frozen” by those units’ contracts, said Chief Financial Officer Edmund Grant. When contracts are renewed, things will change.
Grant said when he “went out and talked to the employees I told them $5 co-pay doesn’t exist (for the majority of workers in private and public sectors).
“When the contract runs out, it doesn’t exist here,” he said.
On a staggered basis, those contracts will end July 1 this year, another in 2013 and another in 2014, ultimately touching all county employees.
While most municipalities have switched to the state Health Benefits Plan, the county has stayed away from that system.
“Ours is better without question,” said Grant. “When the contract changes…all this is going to change. This is changing everything. Our package is more attractive.”
The figures came at the conclusion of a presentation Grant gave the board regarding employees’ health and lifestyle ideas.
When those contract changes slowly take place, it is hoped by the board that employees will take greater care of themselves and thus reduce healthcare costs all around.
That was the crux of Grant’s “wellness program” presentation. Over 30 county employees and Freeholder Kristine Gabor held a series of meetings that resulted in a “very lively discussion,” he said.
Basically, employees on that task force at four major county campuses worked to hone a series of items from three dozen to about 11.
Overall, the top choice for those employees was “convenient fitness and classes and options,” said Grant.
While the aspect of discounted gym programs is enticing, employees said “more accessible to employees would be something beneficial.” If that happened, “They would take advantage,” said Grant.
Second, take advantage of existing resources, such as health department programs and courses at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service and county library.
For employees working at the Administration Building on Moore Road, convenient fitness rooms and healthy on-site food were tied for first place there, said Grant. He said part of the complaint was that vending machines in the facility dispensed “horrible food.” And that the closest restaurant or fast-food outlet was a far distance for those on brief lunch breaks.
“Here, there are no restaurants take outs, no salad bars,” said Grant.
Another desire was access to “Jersey Fresh” produce in season. The idea was advanced that employees could link with a farmer, pay in advance for a portion of their crop, and have it brought to the complex on a regular basis to divide among cooperative participants. The idea sprang from a worker in the County Engineer’s office, Grant said.
“Everyone in the room said it was a great idea,” he added.
When the selection was done, said Grant, if any produce was unclaimed, it could always be used at the County Park Zoo.
“It would benefit the employees and taxpayers with a healthier lifestyle. It would decrease medical and prescription costs and benefit business owners and farms,” noted Gabor. If such ideas were put in place, “We would be taking resources and investing them back in the county and that would be beneficial to many in the county,” Gabor added.
“Do we start buying soybean futures?” quipped Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton. He wondered about a farm market program at the County Park.
“It didn’t work because people went into the park and zoo, but not necessarily for the produce,” replied Freeholder M. Susan Sheppard. “We are trying to look at different places to get more farmers’ markets and attractions,” she added.
Farmers are not making “as much as they could,” said Sheppard.
Freeholder Leonard Desiderio said Sea Isle City, where he is mayor, had a successful farmers’ market program.
So did West Cape May, said Sheppard.
Grant said the county’s health insurance provider would advance $100,000 toward health and wellness programs as part of the “road map” to improving health of covered employees.
That provider, Grant added, was “very impressed with our results.”
He estimated it would take upward of a year to get the program to its starting point. “We need to know where to focus resources.
Grant said prior to that start, the present task force would have to be dissolved and a seven to nine member panel of stakeholders put in place to form a Health benefit Standing Committee.