This week Grand Traverse County Commissioners voted down a plan to pitch in money towards their own health insurance costs.

TRAVERSE CITY -- Currently the Grand Traverse County Commissioners get 100 percent of their health insurance covered with no co-pays. So we wondered what other county commissioners in northern Michigan pay toward medical coverage?

That's the subject of this fact finder:

The Grand Traverse County Commissioners originally proposed a 4 percent co-pay for 2009 and a 8 percent co-pay in coverage in 2010. Wednesday night commissioners changed the proposed increase to a 2 percent co-pay, which would have amounted to about $3 for single coverage for every two week pay period. But when it came to a vote, commissioners ultimately rejected the plan.

So we called other counties across northern Michigan to compare coverage costs and here's what we found out:

Leelanau County Board of Commissioners also receive full medical benefits at no cost to them, but they are responsible for co-pays for some services. Charlevoix County, commissioners elected after 2005 are fully covered for themselves only, if they need a family plan the cost is 40 percent of the family premium plus office co-pays. Here's what we found in Otsego County commissioners must pay 50 percent of health insurance costs and also are responsible for co-pays. And in Wexford and Emmet Counties, the Board of Commissioners do not receive any paid health insurance coverage.  Below are the votes from the board's meeting.

October 29, 2008 Grand Traverse County Commission Meeting Minutes:

"Moved by Maxbauer, seconded by Inman to set the County Commissioners' co-pay for health insurance at 2% for 2009 and 4% for 2010.
Roll Call Vote: Yes 3 Nay 6
Nay: Fleis, Schmidt, Lemcool, Underwood, Hooper and Wheelock

Moved by Fleis, second by Hooper to leave the Commissioners' co-pay for health insurance at the status quo for 2009 and 2010.
Roll Call Vote: Yes 5 Nay 4
Nay: Maxbauer, Schmidt, Lemcool, and Inman"