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Library employees offered Health Savings Accounts [The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.](Tribune-Star (Terre Haute, IN) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 21--Employees of the Vigo County Public Library will soon be able to choose a health savings account for their health insurance coverage, thanks to a vote Monday by the library's board of directors. The appointed board voted without opposition to allow the HSA option for the library's workforce next year. HSAs have higher deductibles but also lower premiums. They are also the property of the employee not the employer, noted Julia Thomas with JA Benefits, a Bedford-based consulting firm that helps the library with its insurance options. Library employees will retain the option of a traditional, low-deductible insurance plan, said Kristi Howe, library director. Employees can also switch plans at the beginning of each calender year, she said. The library's HSA plan complies with the Affordable Care Act, Thomas said. Thomas also informed the board that premiums for library employee health insurance plans will not increase in 2015. Only dental coverage will see an increase of 13 percent. Other coverage will remain unchanged, she said. HSAs enjoy tax benefits and have seen an increase in the number of people enrolled in recent years. In 2013, about 7.2 million people used HSAs compared with 6.6 million in 2012, according to Investment News, a financial website. --Also Monday evening, the library board honored the Friends of the Library volunteer group with a special resolution. The Friends group has raised money for the library and conducted other voluntary services for 30 years, said Hank Metzger, board president. "It's incredible what you do and it's incredible what you bring back to the library," Metzger told representatives of the Friends of the Library who attended the meeting and received a copy of the resolution. The next library board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 in a basement meeting room of the main library branch at Seventh and Poplar streets. ___ (c)2014 The Tribune-Star (Terre Haute, Ind.) Visit The Tribune-Star (Terre Haute, Ind.) at tribstar.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |