Hall County approves Berkeley reinsurance renewal and 3% medical premium increase

The Hall County Board unanimously approved the health-insurance committee's recommendation April 23 to renew reinsurance coverage with Berkeley and to increase medical insurance premiums by 3% for the coming year.

A benefits adviser (Matt, speaker 16) told commissioners the county had favorable claims experience and that Berkeley's renewal terms reduced certain reinsurance provisions. The adviser said the county's overall contracted estimate dropped from roughly $5.36 million to about $5.10 million in negotiated terms and that worst-case aggregate estimates also improved modestly.

"The reinsurance offer from Berkeley...is going down," the adviser said, summing the competitive renewal results. He and committee members recommended a 3% medical premium increase to smooth future volatility while keeping dental and life-insurance rates steady.

Commissioner (speaker 2) moved to approve the committee recommendation and to authorize the chair to sign the Berkeley renewal; that motion and a separate motion to adopt the 3% medical-premium increase both passed on recorded 7-0 votes. The board also approved maintaining dental and life premiums at current rates.

Next steps: the county will sign the renewal with Berkeley and implement the 3% adjustment for medical premiums; staff will communicate plan changes and any employee contribution adjustments as required.