MOUNT VERNON — New health insurance premiums were approved when the Knox County Board of Health met Wednesday evening at the Knox County Health Department. The board was recently notified by the Knox County Board of Commissioners of the first increase in rates since 2005. Different county offices reportedly pay different portions of their insurance premiums.
The rates for 2012 will be increasing by a reported 17 percent. Of those amounts for the health department, the board pays 85 percent for individuals and 80 percent for family rates. Knox County Health Commissioner Julie Miller announced that premiums for individuals will now be $79.50 per month with family rates increasing to $217 per month.
A resolution was passed to approve the posting of food service inspections on the health department’s website. This was the recommendation of the Knox County Licensing Council, which is made up of representatives from the various entities which the board licenses. It is their intent to eventually have all inspections posted online, and the process will begin with food service in March 2012, which is the beginning of a new licensing period.