BY THE NUMBERS1,900: Number of employees covered$1 million: Savings promised by CignaSource: Hamilton County Commission
Hamilton County commissioners said Thursday they like saving money as much as the next elected body, but sounded wary of a proposal to save $1 million a year by switching insurance carriers.
Next week commissioners will consider hiring Cigna Health Insurance Co. instead of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. BlueCross has held the contract to administer the county’s insurance since commissioners switched from Cigna in 2003.
Cigna tried to win back the business in 2006, saying it could save $800,000 to $1 million, but commissioners renewed with BlueCross.
Now, though, with the county about to lose $10.5 million in revenue from the end of a sales tax agreement with Chattanooga, leaders are looking for savings wherever they can find them.