The City of Hays has received Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas’ renewal rates for employees health insurance costs in 2012.   This year’s renewal is a negative 6.96 percent.

According to Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno, utilization is lower than expected, due to an increase in employees’ education about health care procedures and options making employees more cost conscious.

Many city employees changed to a high-deductible plan for 2011, says Briseno.  Those employees also were enrolled in a health savings account.

City Commissioners will discuss the options during their work session Thursday night starting at 6:30.  Commission policy is a $95-hundred dollar average cap per employee.