EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
Thousands of workers are affected at a number of companies and Vanderburgh County officials will meet on Thursday to discuss their next step after learning they'll soon need a new insurance provider.
There's been a lot of buzz about what will happen after Welborn Health Plans, that is based in Evansville, gets out of the insurance business on December 31st.
"Just kind of a name that I've seen in papers," said Evansville resident Greg Robinson.
And now Evansville-based Welborn Health Plans is making headlines again in what is said to be its final chapter.
"We got a call yesterday morning," said Marsha Abell, the Vanderburgh County Commission President.
Abell says after learning Welborn Health Plans is getting out of the group insurance business at the end of the year, she immediately scheduled a meeting with an insurance agent, the county council president, and the county auditor.
"We've got to make sure that January 1, 2013, our employees have insurance coverage," Abell said.
Currently the county is in a 5-year contract with Welborn and is paying $13 million in premiums this year.
"And since we go into budget hearings in July, I've got to be able to find some idea how much premiums are going to be so the council can set their budget," Abell said.
The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation just adopted its new multi-year contract with Welborn Health Plans on June 1st. It's now forced to start shopping around again.
"That work began actually last night with our individual at Old National Insurance that helps us to get the best rates and the best coverage," said Marsha Jackson with the EVSC.
Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, a company that's aggressively recruiting Welborn's business clients says it's guaranteeing coverage to any of those companies that choose Anthem.
Welborn insures about 30,000 people.
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