'Awesome': Western Springs Finds $575K In Savings

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs is reversing a trend of major increases in employees' health insurance premiums.

Last year, premiums jumped by a third. Originally, the insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield, proposed a 47 percent hike, according to a memo.

The village expected a significant increase again this year.

So Western Springs struck a deal with a cooperative known as the Government Insurance Network, which gets its coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield.

The savings amount to $575,000, or a 17 percent drop in costs, the memo said.

"That's really awesome," Trustee Nicole Chen said at this week's Village Board meeting.

Village President Heidi Rudolph called it an "outstanding result."

"I've never been sitting up here where one line item is going to be reduced by $575,000 while maintaining the same level of service to employees," she said.

In the last few years, many employers, including area government bodies, have seen big hikes in insurance costs.