Employee Benefit Trust Minutes - 12/15/2003 CITY OF WICHITA FALLS
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TRUST MEETING
December 15, 2003
Present: Bill Sullivan, Chair
James Berzina, City Manager
Jim Dockery, Director of Finance
Jan Stricklin, Director of Administrative Services
Gail Garmon,Employee Benefits Coordinator
The meeting was called to order by Bill Sullivan at 2:00 PM
A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes of the last meeting with no
corrections. Motion carried.
Agenda Items:
Financial Statement:
Since this meeting was called for the purpose of discussing the still rising cost of the
City's health plans, the regular financial statement was tabled. Jim Dockery presented
his projected figures that will see the Plan again in need of going to the Council for
additional funds to cover costs. Based on the figures for the last two months, he expects
the Plan to be in arrears by about$1,000,000.00 by the end of the current fiscal year.
Old Business
There was no old business.
New Business
Jan Stricklin made a proposal that the $20,000.00 cap on weight reduction surgery be
suspended and that the Plan no longer cover weight reduction surgery of any kind as well
as other elective surgeries (vasectomy and tubal reversals). The motion was seconded by
Jim Dockery. Motion carried.
After much discussion the plans were then amended to reflect increases in premiums,
deductibles, and out of pocket expenses. In addition, co pay percentages were changed to
reflect a 70/30 split for in network providers and a 50/50 split for out of network
providers. The prescription card coverage was amended to exclude certain costly drugs
that have an over the counter equivalent. It was decided that there would be no changes
at this time to the Medicare supplemental plan for retirees over the age of 65. All
changes will take place on January 1, 2004 and notices will be sent out to all employees
and affected retirees immediately. It was further decided that the Trust will now
implement a yearly enrollment period. That enrollment period will be the month of
January each year.
The above changes were aimed at curbing the increasing cost of the plans both to the City
and to the employees. It was noted by Jan Stricklin that the nation wide trend still calls
for increased cost in medical care and that there is a need for the City to increase its
contribution share.
Jan Stricklin made a motion that these changes be accepted and implemented on January
1, 2004. Motion was seconded and carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 PM.
Re ectfully •
an Stricklin
Director of Administrative Services