Craig Howell NEW PROVIDER – During Tuesday's meeting, Brooke County commissioners approved a proposal from USI Insurance Services to provide insurance coverage for county employees.

WELLSBURG — Brooke County employees will enter the new fiscal year with a new insurance provider.

Brooke County commissioners, during their meeting Tuesday morning, approved a plan through USI Insurance Services to provide health, dental, vision and life insurance coverage for county employees.

The move follows several concerns expressed by employees about their current coverage.

“We received a few different quotes,” Commissioner Stacey Wise noted, explaining that some department heads and employees participated in reviewing the proposals.

Under the USI proposal, county employees will receive health, dental and vision coverage through Highmark, with life insurance through Mutual of Omaha. A gap plan is available through Pan America.

In all, the plan is set to cost the county $1,606,411.

“The insurance will be effective July 1,” Commissioner Tom Diserio said.

Wise also explained there will be no premium or deductible costs passed on to employees under the plan.

In response to questions from employees in attendance, Nathan Mazur, vice president of employee benefits for USI, said employees may not receive physical insurance cards by July 1, but each will be provided a plan identification number in time for coverage to begin.

“You will have access July 1,” he said.

It was noted that, after a review meeting last week, the county received additional proposals that would have required using separate companies for some coverage. County Clerk Kim Barbetta recommended against that approach.

“I thought it was in our best interest to stay with one broker,” she said.

Barbetta also thanked those involved in selecting a new broker, adding that having an employee insurance plan fully covered by the employer is not something available to everyone.

“We don’t realize what we have that’s right in front of us,” she said.

In other business, commissioners opted to table bids received for the purchase of a vehicle for the county compliance officer and two sheriff’s vehicles, pending review, but approved a bid from Pro X Fleet Solutions of Follansbee for upfitting the sheriff’s vehicles once purchased.

The costs for those upfits would be $20,778.09 for a K-9 vehicle and $16,000.18 for a patrol vehicle.