In this file photo, Hamilton County Commissioner Larry Henry participates in a county commission meeting at the courthouse.Hamilton County commissioners delayed a vote today to switch the county’s insurance administrator from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee to Cigna.
The move came after BlueCross officials told commissioners they had filed a protest of the recommendation to award the contract to Cigna.
Cigna says it can save the county $1 million in a budget year in which the county is looking for savings everywhere.
Tony Pepper, business segment director of major accounts at BlueCross, told commissioners there were several things in Cigna’s proposal the commission is not factoring into a decision.
“BlueCross BlueShield is afraid that we’re going lose your business,” Pepper told commissioners. “Your employees are afraid. Being afraid is not healthy.”