ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

Monday, Seward County commissioners approved the annual renewal of health and dental insurance plans for employees for Fiscal Year 2026.

The county provides comprehensive medical and dental insurance to all full-time employees, and historically, the county has utilized Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) as its primary carrier.

For the 2026 plan year, though, the county is now moving away from a “worst-case scenario” budgeting model to a more precise project based on actual claims data from the previous  24 to 36 months.

Additionally, the county has implemented a voluntary pharmaceutical program via IMA Benefits for the top 10 most expensive drugs, which successfully saved the county more than $300,000 in the previous cycle. This renewal continues those cost-saving initiatives while maintaining existing coverage levels.

Commissioners met in a work session prior to Monday’s regular meeting with representatives from IMA to finalize a benefits package for the county.

As the discussion began at the regular meeting, Vice Chair Todd Stanton said commissioners should look at two of the options presented because they gave employees both more flexibility and a new plan.

“I think we need to at least have a discussion about what the employee contribution is going to be and place it somewhere between the two options,” he said.

IMA Account Executive Nick Johnston said commissioners were presented with benchmark contributions.

“As we looked at what other employers are doing in the area, this matched or mimicked one of the other plans,” he said. “It would be a pretty substantial increase on the current low deductible plan. That would be going from $55 to $283 for a family plan, and it’d go from $335 to $841, but they have the option to enroll into the $1,500 deductible plan at a much lower contribution rate. It’d be $101 for an employee only or $400 for a family.”

Johnston said those opting for the $1,500 deductible plan would make the same monthly contribution, and those wanting the lower $500 deductible plan would pay a little more for premiums.

Johnston said much of the rates quoted depended on migration of employees, and one illustration assumed 75 percent of employees enrolling at the $1,500 deductible and another assumed 50 percent.

“With the numbers I just ran, I’m assuming 50 percent because they’re much more reasonable,” he said.

Still, Johnston said one model assumed 21 employees would opt for the employee only $500 deductible, 30 choosing to go with the family plan with a $500 deductible and 61 employee only and 89 family with the $1,500 deductible plan.

“We’re looking at enrollment numbers based on today,” he said. “You might have some people drop. Right now, we have 201 employees enrolled in the employee benefits on the health and dental. That number could drop as we’re looking at the budget for next year.”

Stanton said of all the plans presented, the $500 and $1,500 deductibles made the most sense.

“It seems reasonable and competitive with some of our other area groups, and at the same time, we’re not putting the big sticker shock there that Model Two would’ve done initially,” he said.

Commissioner John Mettlen agreed.

“It’s getting us there,” he said. “We might pick up some more on the prescription drug benefit.”

“It’ll incentivize more people to opt into IMA Rx, which will give more savings to the plan and help lower those costs too,” Johnston said.

Before a final decision was made, Johnston prepared and presented a comparison of the rates the county was getting under the current plan and what they would get under the plan commissioners preferred.

Stanton said a $1,500 deductible with $75 contributions for employees only and $365 for families was very competitive.

“I know it’s tough with how the plan’s set up going from a $200 deductible to $1,500, but it’s still very competitive from what’s out there in the market,” he said.

Stanton made the motion to adopt the medical and dental proposal from IMA presented to the commission, and the board voted unanimously to approve the motion.

Under the $500 deductible for employees only, it is estimated 21 employees would pay yearly premium of $1,275, with the county contributing $1,085.

Family plans under the $500 deductible would average $2,793 employee contribution, with the county paying $2,143.

With the $1,500 deductible, employee only plans are estimated to have $1,247 a year in premiums, with the county contributing $1,143, and family plans would have $2,730 in premiums, with the county contributing $2,293.

The annual cost for employees is nearly $36,000 less than the current premium rate or a 0.7 percent decrease. The county’s contribution is nearly $330,000 less than the current rate or a 7 percent decrease.