Brunswick city employees to pay portion of health insurance costs to help cut budget

BRUNSWICK -- Several employee policy changes have been implemented at city hall over the past week in an ongoing effort to slash the city's operating budget. After approving more than $500,000 in cuts to the 2009 budget last month, City Manager Robert Zienkowski said city council OK'd several emergency cost-saving measures Monday, starting with a move that will require city employees to pick up a portion of their medical insurance premiums. Effective April 1 all city employees will be required to pay 10 percent of their medical insurance, in addition to any regular deductibles and co-pays. The policy change is expected to save the city approximately $30,000 in 2009, said Finance Director Bill White.

Efforts to lower the cost of city medical benefits will continue in 2010, Zienkowski said, at which time the city is looking to rework its medical plan. In addition to raising co-pays, he said the city is also considering an increase in its deductibles. The changes, Zienkowski says, will be permanent and will not change even if voters approve the proposed 0.5 percent income tax increase on the ballot in May. "We can't continue to operate the way we did 10 to 15 years ago," Zienkowski said. "Moving forward, we're going to have to continue to makes changes based on the economic times in order to be able to provide the level of service the community expects."

Among the policy changes that are temporary, Zienkowski says, is the citywide hiring freeze the city enacted in February. Along with that, he has opted to suspend all out-of state travel until further notice unless employees are willing to pick up 100 percent of their travel costs. Additionally, he said, the city has revoked its employee meal reimbursement policy that allocated employees a daily stipend for breakfast, lunch and dinner when they were traveling in or out of state. It has also eliminated paid vacations for part-time employees hired after March 15. Zienkowski says the city has also implemented a wage freeze for all non-bargaining employees starting in 2010.

news source : http://blog.cleveland.com/

Times Are Tough, But Cutting Car Insurance Costs Now Could Cost You Later

Cutting Car Insurance Costs is tempting when money is tight...but there can be some devastating consequences to doing that. Be careful how you decide to save money and cut costs. Auto insurance is an important asset! (NAPSI)-In times of economic uncertainty, people look for ways to save money--from clipping coupons to limiting meals out. But cutting back on certain things now could mean heftier bills later. That definitely holds true for car insurance--an accident could cost hundreds, and you don't want to be stuck with the bill. Drivers need to stay insured to protect themselves, but there are ways to save real money on your insurance. Here are a few tips from leading car insurer Progressive:

Stay Covered. If finances are tight, you might consider downgrading to minimum-limits, liability-only coverage to save money. But that may not be enough--if you cause an accident, your insurance might not cover all the damages. Carry the right physical damage and liability coverages with sufficient limits to meet your needs so that fender bender doesn't cost you big bucks. If you're considering dropping coverage altogether, you might want to reconsider: Doing that is illegal in most states, and if you drop your insurance now, you'll pay more to get a new policy later because most insurers want to see proof of continuous coverage.

Protect yourself from uninsured and underinsured drivers. You might not be the only one who's looking to save a little dough--other drivers might cut costs by canceling their policy or reducing their coverage. And if one of those drivers hits you, you could be left paying for the damages. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage can help protect you. Shop around. Rates can vary greatly from company to company, so shop around to find the best deal. A local independent insurance agent can offer more choices and savings because he or she can review multiple options to find the right mix of companies, policies and rates for you. Make sure your policy is up to date. If you've moved, gotten married or bought a home, check with your agent--you may be eligible for lower rates.

Raise your deductibles. According to the Insurance Information Institute, raising your deductibles to $500 could reduce your Collision and Comprehensive costs by 15 to 30 percent. Research before you buy. Before you buy a new car, ask your agent what it will cost to insure. Generally, smaller cars with lower horsepower are less expensive to cover. Check coverages. Owners of older or inexpensive cars could consider dropping Comprehensive and Collision coverages. Doing that can save hundreds of dollars each year. Check for available discounts. Talk to your agent about discounts your carrier provides. You might be eligible for a car insurance discount if you pay in full, are a loyal customer, sign up for paperless billing or list another car on your policy.

For information and to find an agent nearby, visit the Progressive Web site, www.progressiveagent.com. If you've moved, gotten married or bought a home, check with your auto insurance agent--you may be eligible for lower rates.

news source : http://news.carjunky.com/

D80 student insurance rates see increase

MT. VERNON — In spite of an increase in student accident insurance rates, the plan is still a good deal, according to District 80 Superintendent Dr. Kevin Settle. “During the past four years, they are paying out more than we are paying in premiums every year,” Settle said. “The increase is still much less than we would have paid without the insurance coverage.” Members of the District 80 Board agreed, and have approved renewing the insurance policy for another year. The cost of the insurance coverage will cost the district $12,625 annually, up 21 percent from $10,365.

Settle said an average of nine claims are made to the accident insurance company — First Agency — annually. “We have kids who may get hurt on the playground equipment or playing sports , things like that,” Settle explained. “The insurance company pays 100 percent of the claims. ... The parents’ insurance is still the primary, but for those who don’t have insurance and an accident happens while they are at school, this policy covers those students.”

And, Settle said with the number of students in the district whose families are at the poverty level, the number of children without insurance coverage has risen over the years. District 80 has about a 75.5 percent low income enrollment, according to state statistics.“Most schools don’t do this,” Settle reported. “We’re one of the few who provide insurance for our students.” The district began offering the accident insurance about eight years ago.

news source : http://www.register-news.com/