How much do benefits cost?

We have a follow-up to Monday's Town Council meeting in tomorrow's Chapel Hill News. One of the questions we could not answer when we first reported the meeting in Tuesday's News & Observer was whether any local governments that offer health insurance to former board members had had any takers.

It turns out at least one has. Orange County, like Durham County, offers to continue coverage for departing county commissioners after two full terms. The county pays 100 percent of the costs. Diane Shepherd, the county benefits manager, said one former commissioner is currently enrolled. She declined to give us the name for privacy reasons. But she said the cost of insuring the former commissioner is the same as for any former county employee who served at least 10 years: $445 per month.

The policy changes when the person reaches 65. At that time, Medicare kicks in, and the ex commissioner can receive supplemental insurance (about $185 per month, depending on when the person enters the system) and a prescription drug benefit (about $78 per month).