Phillips applauds King County employees, innovative health program for reducing costs

September 20, 2011

Summary

County employees partnered to save $38 million in health benefits costs in 2012

Story

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Larry Phillips provided the following statement in response to today’s news that employee health care costs will come in $38 million below projections in 2012.

“King County employees deserve a great deal of praise for embracing the Healthy Incentives Program and partnering with us to reduce the growth in King County’s health care costs. In these tight budget times that are challenging our ability to preserve services, lower health care costs help keep Sheriff’s deputies on patrol, prosecutors in court, and buses on the street.

“Prior to adopting the Healthy Incentives program, King County was not unique in experiencing budget-busting growth in employee health care costs. Rising health care costs plague every family, business, and government. What is unique to King County is that instead of simply passing the cost growth onto employees through premium sharing, King County partnered with our employees to reduce total health care costs. The result is a healthier bottom line for tax payers and healthier employees. King County’s innovative approach to controlling health care costs provides a model for other public and private employers to follow.”