County health premium to increase if too few employees get health screening

If more Lincoln County employees don’t take part in an upcoming health screening, the county’s health insurance premium will increase.

Jennifer McCully, the county’s public health manager, told the Lincoln County Commission at its Wednesday meeting that 42 employees — all from the Libby area — had signed up for health screenings scheduled for Tuesday in Eureka and Wednesday in Libby.

In order for the premium to remain the same, a minimum of 40 percent of county employees who are on its health plan, or 58 people, need to participate.

McCully said the screenings are “free and exciting” and worth having again even in the event someone has had one done in the previous six months.

“Why not take one for the team?” she asked rhetorically.

Commissioner Mike Cole, who represents Eureka, said he will encourage the Euerka annex employees to participate as well as to Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office staff.

McCully said she didn’t know when the premium would be increased in the event too few employees participated in the health screenings.