LISBON — In an effort to save money, the spouses of county general fund employees will no longer be eligible for health insurance coverage if they can obtain coverage from their employer.

County commissioners on Wednesday approved the change in policy, which will affect about 80 spouses of county employees. The change takes effect Jan. 1.

“If it’s offered, they have to take it from their employer,” said Commissioner Jim Hoppel.

Many employers already require the same thing, and commissioners are making the change to head off future increase in insurance premiums by looking at ways to save money while causing minimal hardship to employees.

“We’re just looking to the future,” said commission clerk Scherry Desarro, who oversees the insurance program. “We’ve had a couple of bad years and we want to be able to keep being able to offer good coverage to our people, and we think this is the best way.”

The county’s self-funded insurance program costs commissioners about $5 million a year but has risen in recent years to $5.5 million due to increased claims. The plan covers about 300 county employees and 450 dependents.

Employees pay 10 percent of the cost of their monthly premiums, and their premiums were increased by 10 percent for 2019. Desarro said the goods news is there will be no increase in premiums next year.

“We’re hoping by doing this there will no need for an increase,” she said.

In other action, commissioners gave the county Department of Job and Family Services authorization to enter into contracts for services with the following agencies:

— $55,000 with the Community Action Agency to provide job readiness and job search training for income eligible persons.

— $65,000 with the CAA to continue providing supervised visitation services between children and the parents who have been stripped of custody. JFS Interim Director Rachel Ketterman said their Children Services staff supervise visitation Monday through Friday, but CAA Head Start teachers provide the service after hours and on weekends.

— $5,000 with the Community Action Rural Transit System to provide transportation services to and from work for people receiving cash assistance through the JFS. Ketterman said there is a six-month limit for the service because they were concerned any longer would undermine efforts for recipients to achieve self sufficiency.

— $20,000 with CARTS to provide transportation services to and from work for those income-eligible public assistance recipients who are not receiving cash assistance. There is also a six-month limit on this service, too.

Finally, commissioners gave county Engineer Bert Dawson permission to award a bridge rehabilitation contract to U.S. Bridge Inc. of Cambridge for $394,667. The bridge is on Cannons Mill Road in St. Clair Township.

tgiambroni@mojonews.com