NATCHEZ — At least three “good years” with fewer health costs from Adams County employees could help the county overcome an upcoming spike in health insurance claims, county officials said.

During a special meeting of the Adams County Board of Supervisors Monday, the board discussed the county’s employee health insurance policy with representatives of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi.

Adams County Administrator Joe Murray said $2 million had been budgeted each year for employee health insurance. However, the actual expense of the policy had been approximately $300,000 short of that mark for the past three years, Murray said.

The county’s policy year with Blue Cross ends on March 31, and officials said they intend to stay with the company in the upcoming year, which has a less favorable projected expense, Murray said.

The county is a “self-insured” policyholder, Murray said, meaning the county would be financially accountable for up to $50,000 in health claims per person covered under the county’s policy up to a $1.5 million cap, after which Blue Cross picks up the remainder of the claims.

An extra $500,000 is left in the $2 million budget to cover any fixed expenses set by Blue Cross, Murray said.

“We have to budget the maximum amount because we have that much exposure,” Murray said. “This last year, in 2018, our claims were close to doubled — so our insurance costs will go up, but I’m not sure how much yet. Whatever we saved in the last year, I’d have to leave inside (the health fund) in cash to cover our insurance this year.”

Supervisors could not comment on any health procedures that county personnel claimed on their insurance that would cause an increase in expense.

Murray said the county shouldn’t have any problems handling any increase with its budget.

District 1 Supervisor, Mike Lazarus said the county had actually saved money over the last three years.

“This is the third year in a row that we’re going to be about $300,000 under our budget,” Lazarus said. “We’ve saved almost $1 million.”

Two years ago, Lazarus said he recommended that the county hire a nurse practitioner to cut back on health expenses.

“Our nurse practitioner sees the county inmates and juveniles at the detention center every day until noon,” he said. “From 12 to 5 p.m., she has an office in the county where all employees can see her without an appointment, whether they have the flu, need a shot, have back pain or whatever they need … they can go see her. Employees don’t even have to pay a co-pay … and we’re saving a ton of money.”

No action was taken during Monday’s meeting regarding the health policy.