Cabarrus Cheap Seats

Each month, I make a bet. I bet that I will total my car, that my house will be robbed, that I will need open heart surgery, and I will die within 6 weeks.

Of course, I regularly (and happily) lose this bet. Progressive Insurance, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and NC Farm Bureau end up winning. They work the odds knowing what they know about me - my age, my gender, my medical history, my driving record, my commute to work, etc. What they do is play the odds. They have actuaries on their side, and the best I can do is shop around. The point is that insurance is just that. They charge me based on various risk factors; much like a professional gambler bets on the odds that the other players have a better hand. However, the more you improve your odds - the less the ante is. That was the thought behind a program that didn’t make it to last month’s agenda.

Last month, the Independent Tribune reported on a proposed discount offered to County employees to cut their share of the individual premiums by more than $500/year if the employee signs an affidavit stating that he or she is tobacco-free.

Sounds sensible. Especially when you figure, according to the article, that smokers run up 21 percent higher than average on health services and 28 percent more on medication. So, the families of County employees can have a dinner out or a movie every month; but the incumbent commissioners didn’t feel that way. Also, with a better risk profile - the county could save some taxpayer dollars with the lower total premiums.

Watch and you’ll see why Winston Churchill referred to democracy as “the worst system of government - except for all of the others”. First, the measure failed 2-3. The two who voted were Carruth (who works in Insurance) and Juba (who, as a business owner, might know a thing or two about group insurance plans) - and they were both not on the ballot this year. The three that are on the ballot voted against it. Here’s their reasoning:

• Carolyn Carpenter - Used a slippery slope argument. Stating that this could lead to charging more for obese employees or employees with allergies who choose to keep pets. Nevermind that one can’t go “cold turkey” from being obese and their pets probably won’t give them lung cancer
• Robert Freeman said he thought that employees could simply lie. So, that should give you some idea of how much he trusts County staff
• Coy Privette shows there’s no limit to the craziness - he said that he would be in favor if it only included teetotalers. Yep, nevermind that the Mayo Clinic and many doctors tout the benefits of moderate alcohol use and the County already tests workers for illegal drugs. However, he has to make a headline to keep that Ol’Time Baptist endorsement.

It’s unfortunate that a program which could save both working families (County staff) and taxpayers money won’t be implemented this year; because our elected officials can’t handle the facts for what they are. Unfortunately, the only fact that our elected officials can deal with during an election year is if they could lose a vote.

Given this example, let’s all hope that the primaries are over before the Budget process gets into full swing - it’s sad to see good ideas die in the name of election year challenges.