WARREN — Trumbull County employees will have updated health insurance policies available beginning in January that could see costs increase up to 12%, depending on the insurance categories they choose to accept.

Trumbull County commissioners have been for several weeks looking at different plans in an attempt to provide time for employees and their families to select what is best for them.

Individuals who separate from the county and enter its COBRA programs will pay up to $1,257.51 under the single plan and $3,469.17 for the family plan under one of the PPO options.

The majority of county employees under the United Health Care / Guardian Plan A PPO single plan will experience a bi-weekly increase of $4.06. Those using the family plan will have a bi-weekly increase of $5.54.

Those selecting the PPO B plan will have a $7.10 biweekly increase in the single plan and a $19.63 biweekly increase under the family plan. Those that select the EPO plan will see a bi-weekly increase of $7.18 under the single plan and a $19.84 increase under the family plan.

Sheriff’s office employees will experience bi-weekly increases of 92 cents under PPO plan A for singles and $1.21 for families. Those under the PPO Plan B will have a bi-weekly increase of 97 cents for singles and $2.70 for families.

Sheriff’s office employees under the EPO plan will have bi-weekly increases of 98 cents for singles and $2.73 under the family plans.

Commissioner Denny Malloy said insurance rates are outside of the commissioners’ control.

“Insurance rates have gone up everywhere,” he said. “It is not an easy process. None of us want to raise anything when it comes to employees. What we don’t want to sacrifice is the quality coverage that Trumbull County employees have. Employees that work here know they have great coverage, low deductibles, vision, hearing and dental.

They have some of the best health coverage I’ve ever seen. For right now, this is the best, I believe, we could have done.”

He noted the cost of health care coverage has gone up nationwide.

Malloy complemented the county human resources department for getting the best coverage it could.

Commissioner Rick Hernandez agreed.

“If we could do any better, we will do better,” Hernandez said.

Details of the health plan changes are being sent to county employees.