Commission hears about benefits options, accepts bid

Nevada Daily Mail

The Vernon County Commission has heard from different insurance agencies in recent weeks concerning benefits, such as eye care, life and health insurance, the county offers to its employees.

The commission heard from one such provider Wednesday afternoon, that is just a little different from some other providers because, despite their services offered around the country, they do not invest in advertising, instead depending on word of mouth from their employees and customers.

"It's very simple and straight forward," said Jeremy Simmons, of Family Heritage, which offers cancer, heart attack/stroke, accident, life and intensive care insurance policies.

Simmons said Family Heritage offers a wide variety of insurance options at rates starting at just $7 a week with other premiums running about $200 a month.

But unlike some other insurance companies, where Simmons said clients might hope for a hail storm near the end of their insurance policy's lifespan, for example, so they can benefit from the premiums they have paid, Family Heritage refunds those payments if a claim is not made after 20 years.

Simmons said if the client dies before that 20 years has passed, that refund is given to their beneficiaries instead.

Simmons, who is based in Clinton, said he often works with counties and schools to provide benefits for employees, including neighboring counties such as Cedar, Dade and St. Claire, as well as about 30 school districts.

But despite working with larger entities, Simmons said the insurance is offered more at the individual level, with employers not handling the policies, so that it does not come from their payroll. Because of that fact, only the employee and their family benefits from the eventual refunds and they can also take the policy with them if they change jobs.

"Bad things unfortunately happen to good people," Simmons said, but the goal of Family Heritage is to take care of their clients when such emergencies happen, saying they do all they can to cover "life bills" that continue despite injury or illness.

The commission also opened bids for steel Tuesday from three companies, and accepted the bid of $99,622.30 from Viebrock Sales LLC, Sedalia, for steel products, including culvers. Independent Industries and Oden Enterprises also submitted bids.