A new health insurance program netted the borough of Monaca a $124,000 refund
MONACA — A change in healthcare did the borough good.
A change last year to a healthcare consortium program netted the borough about $124,000 in refunded premiums, Monaca Borough Manager Mario Leone said. Last year, officials began using Benecon, a municipal purchasing cooperative for healthcare. The program is common on the eastern side of the state, but Monaca was one of just three Beaver County public sector groups to participate last year. Leone said Chippewa Township and Creswell Heights Joint Authority, a water authority, in South Heights also participated.
"We were able to do well getting into this governmental pool that was really only out east," Leone said.
Borough employees pay about 10 percent of their healthcare premium, so about $12,400 likely will be split among employees who participated, Leone said.
The rest of the money will stay with the borough, he said. When the switch occurred, Leone said officials discussed creating a specific account for any refunds, but that process hasn't been finalized.
Officials still "have to work out some details," he said.
Leone said that borough employees only saw a 2 percent increase in healthcare premiums as well.
"It was a good move," he said.