The Baker County Commission is having second thoughts about cutting off contributions to retired county employee's health insurance premiums in 2013.

Next week, during the commission's regular meeting April 18 at 5:00 pm, the board is set to discuss a proposal that would remove the 2013 end date, giving employees who retire the subsidy until they reach Medicare eligibility age, regardless of when they retire.

The county has been contributing 56.6 percent of the cost for family coverage and 51.9 percent of single coverage cost for almost 10 years now.

The commission voted 4-1 on March 21 to eliminate subsidized health coverage for retirees eligible for Medicare beginning November 1, 2011 and for existing employees who retire after October 31, 2013 with one exception — those in the Florida Retirement System’s Deferred Retirement Option Program commonly called DROP as of March 22 who retire after the 2013 deadline, may still receive the subsidy until they become Medicare eligible.

The county contributes to coverage for 15 retirees, four of them with family coverage.

The commission will not take action on the new proposal, according to the meeting agenda released today. "It is for discussion purposes only," the agenda item states.

The new proposal came after grumblings from some county employees, including sheriff's deputies who become eligible for retirement and pension benefits sooner than other employees and could therefore have a longer gap between retirement and Medicare eligibility.

Under the compromise, the county would contribute a little less for single coverage, 50 percent rather than 51.9 percent, and contribute the same dollar amount, half the single coverage cost, for family coverage. The other caveats are that retirees must have at least 15 years of service with the county to receive the subsidy and new employees, those hired after the board takes action on the matter, will not be eligible for the subsidy.