Bids for the next Phelps County health insurance plan will be coming in the next several weeks, as the county Commission begins the process of choosing a plan.

“We haven’t bid it in three years,” County Clerk Carol Bennett said of the county’s insurance policy.

The current three-year contract with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is coming to an end after this year.

Gene Maurer, the county’s health-insurance agent from New England Financial, was on hand to discuss the county’s final bid specifications.

There was discussion on what to include in the bid specifications, such as the rates from Blue Cross, or whether the Commission should stipulate bids must be for plans that are accepted at area health facilities.

“They could be in negotiations, and we wouldn’t know it,” District 1 Commissioner Larry Stratman said about stipulating plans must be accepted in local facilities.

Commissioners decided not to include the stipulation, but did decide to include past rates from Blue Cross, not including the companies renewal offer.

Bids officially were opened Monday and will be accepted until Nov. 12.