SIDNEY -- The Cheyenne County Commissioners today approved continuing the cash-in-lieu program.

The decision was made in Monday's county commissioners meeting.

The program pays qualifying employees $500 per month in exchange for not participating in the county's healthcare program. County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh said employees who choose not to sign up for health insurance, can sign up for the cash-in-lieu option. She said the amount of the cash-in-lieu has to be set each year.

To be eligible for the cash-in-lieu option, an employee must be to be able to be added to their spouse’s group health insurance program, be on Tricare (military insurance) or both the employee and the spouse must be eligible for Medicare, according to Fiegenschuh.

Commissioner Randy Miller said the program benefits the employee and the county.

"It appears to me like, and we have 15 cash-in-lieus, and with that cash-in-lieu, we are saving, roughly, $17,000, per person. So, I don't have a problem leaving it in place the way it is now. It saves us a lot of money every year," Miller said.

With the current number of employees opting for the cash-in-lieu instead of health insurance, the county is saving about $255,000 annually, according to Miller. He stressed that the county values its employees. When Blue Cross Blue Shield announced a 5 percent rate increase, the commissioners agreed to share the cost; 2.5 percent will be covered by the county and 2.5 percent by the employees.

Between agenda items, Miller asked employees present in the meeting how county employees feel about the health insurance plan. Employees compared the county's health insurance plan to corporate and private industry, noting the county's plan is less expensive and covers more services.