This blog is maintained for the sole purpose of allowing the people of Peru and those interested in the cities of the Illinois Valley to express their views.
“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.” Samuel Adams
It seems that Mr. Martuzzo our paid insurance consultant, works for Duncan Insurance Co. and sells Blue Cross Blue Shield. He recused himself from advising the council but did not find an independent insurance person to give them advice. In attendance at the meeting were 3 or 4 other insurance people who sent bids into the city but the bids were not taken into consideration either because they missed the bid date or some other reason. Safe to say the the insurance people in attendance did not receive an answer to their complaints from the city. My question is what drawer are those bids hidden in ?
If you miss a bid date, who's to blame? If you did not follow the specs, who's to blame? Agent of record is the agent who has done the work and prepared the bid.
But they did allow Blue Cross Blue Shield to negotiate with the city to lower their bid, so should not the whole bid process have been reopened? So everyone could play in the same ballgame!
Breaking News!!!!!0Was it mentioned that United HC came in with even a lower bid after BC submitted theirs just before closing deadline? Yep.. Sorry United, deadline hit!! Hmmm!!
It doesn't matter . The city had it's choice picked before it even went out to bid . And several agents said they had their bids ready to go by the deadline and Martuzzo said for them not to bother because the council wasn't interested in them . This city does what the select few in charge want and thats final . I know you can't make everyone happen and there are gonna be loser but it has to be fair . This was not fair !
It is common for a business or government to negotiate with companies like BCBS after they renew. BCBS already had the contract there really isn't anything wrong with that. The city should not rebid.
There is no reason to rebid. The council made the right decision to keep the insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield. I believe a point that needs to be considered is the fact that the City of Peru is paying health insurance premiums to a LaSalle agent while there are qualified agents within the city who could provide the Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage. These are businesses that pay taxes to the city, have employees who pay taxes to the city, who shop and patronize other Peru businessess. The consideration now should be who they use as agent of record.
The agent of record is typically the agent who submits the quote. These agents of record are the ones who submit claims and work with the city managers when claims arise. This also can be determined by the company submitting the quote.
Breaking news...City employees are not required to live in town. Are all the city employees required to use the local Peru hospital? To require the insurance company to be in Peru is another ridiculous thought. LaSalle people patronize Peru business, and some LaSalle businesses have employees that live in Peru. You even have people from gasp....Mendota that shop in Peru. To eliminate a professional service because they are based in LaSalle is crazy.
@ 1:29 You hit the nail on the head. The decisions are made ahead of time, they know what they want and who they want before bid. The decision is made by a select few who are in charge and they dont care what the bid said or any body else has to say.
At last Wednesdays city council meeting it was stated that the claims last year of the city employees was double that of premiums paid to BCBS. If this is true it is high time for the city administrators and department heads to investigate safety programs and issues. Could anyone comment on this with further info? As for going out of town when there are a abundance of qualified insurance agents and business' in town - Shame, Shame, Shame. Same situation in hiring a insurance consultant. The Mayor of Peru promised change and published notice of job applications. As the new administration came into existence all of these occupations should have submitted a letter of resignation and the Mayor should start fresh with applicants. There is nothing saying the original applicant cannot apply for the job, with all interested parties.
The city of Peru should first try and hire or patronize businesses within their city. I'm sure that the mayor and all other city officials patronize businesses in their surrounding communities but as I am a business owner for many years within the city of Peru, although I don't expect for the city officials to shop only at my store, and know they do shop out of town. BUT here is the difference: If I provide a good service with reasonable prices, and have my business in Peru..paying taxes. Well If the city chose to take out a certain contract with the services and products i provide, and the city went out of town..Lasalle, Spring Valley etc. I would be Livid!!! From my understanding in this insurance case Peru can get the same exact service from blue cross, same premiums, deductibles and all the same coverage of providers than Brennen and Stuart from LaSalle offers than why in the hell would the city NOT support their own?? I would have to imagine their are some dirty back door politics being played here. Good job for the Aldermen for calling this out.
Why is it that every time an important decision needs to be made there always seems to be a deadline looming? Why are we not better prepared? Especially when it is for this amount of money! Taxpayers money!
Health insurance benefits the employees of the City of Peru. It is paid for by the residents of Peru. If the reported losses were double or close to double the cost of the premiums than most professionals will agree that Peru was fortunate to get any coverage let alone a renewal of less than 10%. As a employee I appreciate the fact that some council members did analyze the figures and came to the conclusion that the current coverage was best option. We were also fortunate that enough council members understood health insurance and the complications that arise in comparing coverage. I was also concerned after attending a few meetings that a few were even confused in comparing workers comp/property with employee health coverage.
11:15 I guess that Alderman that is concerned about city health insurance being in Peru is not concerned about moving ambulance service out of Peru. Consistently not consistent? Is that the correct analogy?
11:51 HUH?? Who's talking about moving the ambulance service out of Peru? I did see something earlier about suggesting to IVCH to give all transports to LaSalle if the city of Peru didn't take over the ambulance. Besides, I think if the city is paying out over 900,000.00 they should sign a contract with a Peru insurance company. What the city pays out in insurance costs are pennies compared to what they would pay for ambulance service.
Just another interesting fact regarding this topic. At the Dec. 14th council meeting the insurance business was discussed and Ms. Boland was in attendance. Yet, the agenda for the meeting did not include "discuss insurance". Then, it was to be put on Mon. Dec. 19th agenda to make a decision on insurance coverage. Yet, that agenda simply stated "approve BCBS renewal proposal". There was no other option.
23 comments:
It seems that Mr. Martuzzo our paid insurance consultant, works for Duncan Insurance Co. and sells Blue Cross Blue Shield. He recused himself from advising the council but did not find an independent insurance person to give them advice.
In attendance at the meeting were 3 or 4 other insurance people who sent bids into the city but the bids were not taken into consideration either because they missed the bid date or some other reason.
Safe to say the the insurance people in attendance did not receive an answer to their complaints from the city.
My question is what drawer are those bids hidden in ?
Just another day of "business as usual" in good old Happy Valley...
If you miss a bid date, who's to blame? If you did not follow the specs, who's to blame? Agent of record is the agent who has done the work and prepared the bid.
But they did allow Blue Cross Blue Shield to negotiate with the city to lower their bid, so should not the whole bid process have been reopened? So everyone could play in the same ballgame!
Breaking News!!!!!0Was it mentioned that United HC came in with even a lower bid after BC submitted theirs just before closing deadline? Yep.. Sorry United, deadline hit!!
Hmmm!!
Correction: Brennan and Stuart is the insurance company through which we receive our BCBS.
It doesn't matter . The city had it's choice picked before it even went out to bid . And several agents said they had their bids ready to go by the deadline and Martuzzo said for them not to bother because the council wasn't interested in them . This city does what the select few in charge want and thats final . I know you can't make everyone happen and there are gonna be loser but it has to be fair . This was not fair !
It is common for a business or government to negotiate with companies like BCBS after they renew. BCBS already had the contract there really isn't anything wrong with that. The city should not rebid.
There is no reason to rebid. The council made the right decision to keep the insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield. I believe a point that needs to be considered is the fact that the City of Peru is paying health insurance premiums to a LaSalle agent while there are qualified agents within the city who could provide the Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage. These are businesses that pay taxes to the city, have employees who pay taxes to the city, who shop and patronize other Peru businessess. The consideration now should be who they use as agent of record.
2:37 I could not have said it better myself!!
The agent of record is typically the agent who submits the quote. These agents of record are the ones who submit claims and work with the city managers when claims arise. This also can be determined by the company submitting the quote.
Breaking news...City employees are not required to live in town. Are all the city employees required to use the local Peru hospital? To require the insurance company to be in Peru is another ridiculous thought. LaSalle people patronize Peru business, and some LaSalle businesses have employees that live in Peru. You even have people from gasp....Mendota that shop in Peru. To eliminate a professional service because they are based in LaSalle is crazy.
@ 1:29 You hit the nail on the head. The decisions are made ahead of time, they know what they want and who they want before bid. The decision is made by a select few who are in charge and they dont care what the bid said or any body else has to say.
At last Wednesdays city council meeting it was stated that the claims last year of the city employees was double that of premiums paid to BCBS. If this is true it is high time for the city administrators and department heads to investigate safety programs and issues. Could anyone comment on this with further info? As for going out of town when there are a abundance of qualified insurance agents and business' in town - Shame, Shame, Shame. Same situation in hiring a insurance consultant. The Mayor of Peru promised change and published notice of job applications. As the new administration came into existence all of these occupations should have submitted a letter of resignation and the Mayor should start fresh with applicants. There is nothing saying the original applicant cannot apply for the job, with all interested parties.
I agree with 4:57
I don't agree with 4:36
The city of Peru should first try and hire or patronize businesses within their city. I'm sure that the mayor and all other city officials patronize businesses in their surrounding communities but as I am a business owner for many years within the city of Peru, although I don't expect for the city officials to shop only at my store, and know they do shop out of town. BUT here is the difference: If I provide a good service with reasonable prices, and have my business in Peru..paying taxes. Well If the city chose to take out a certain contract with the services and products i provide, and the city went out of town..Lasalle, Spring Valley etc. I would be Livid!!!
From my understanding in this insurance case Peru can get the same exact service from blue cross, same premiums, deductibles and all the same coverage of providers than Brennen and Stuart from LaSalle offers than why in the hell would the city NOT support their own??
I would have to imagine their are some dirty back door politics being played here.
Good job for the Aldermen for calling this out.
If this was not fair, the residents support a investigation by the States Attorney. If bids were received after the fact then what is the complaint?
Do Elected City Officials receieve health benefits?
Why is it that every time an important decision needs to be made there always seems to be a deadline looming? Why are we not better prepared? Especially when it is for this amount of money! Taxpayers money!
2:37 To you don't feel the same about ambulance service
Health insurance benefits the employees of the City of Peru. It is paid for by the residents of Peru. If the reported losses were double or close to double the cost of the premiums than most professionals will agree that Peru was fortunate to get any coverage let alone a renewal of less than 10%. As a employee I appreciate the fact that some council members did analyze the figures and came to the conclusion that the current coverage was best option. We were also fortunate that enough council members understood health insurance and the complications that arise in comparing coverage. I was also concerned after attending a few meetings that a few were even confused in comparing workers comp/property with employee health coverage.
11:15 I guess that Alderman that is concerned about city health insurance being in Peru is not concerned about moving ambulance service out of Peru. Consistently not consistent? Is that the correct analogy?
11:51 HUH?? Who's talking about moving the ambulance service out of Peru? I did see something earlier about suggesting to IVCH to give all transports to LaSalle if the city of Peru didn't take over the ambulance.
Besides, I think if the city is paying out over 900,000.00 they should sign a contract with a Peru insurance company.
What the city pays out in insurance costs are pennies compared to what they would pay for ambulance service.
Just another interesting fact regarding this topic. At the Dec. 14th council meeting the insurance business was discussed and Ms. Boland was in attendance. Yet, the agenda for the meeting did not include "discuss insurance". Then, it was to be put on Mon. Dec. 19th agenda to make a decision on insurance coverage. Yet, that agenda simply stated "approve BCBS renewal proposal". There was no other option.
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