Trustees require attestation for opt-out incentive, contingent on county attorney review; $1,776 annual payment cited

Mohave County trustees approved a requirement that employees submit a signed attestation form to receive the county’s conditional opt-out incentive, contingent on final review and any edits by the county attorney.

Staff explained the conditional opt-out program: eligible employees who waive county coverage because they have minimum essential coverage elsewhere may receive a monthly opt-out incentive. HR Director Juliana Demers said the total annual incentive is $1,776, paid as $74 per pay period. Gallagher compliance consultants presented draft attestation language intended to streamline enrollment while protecting the county’s ACA affordability calculations.

Trustees asked how minimum essential coverage would be verified; staff and consultants said the attestation places the onus on the employee to confirm they meet eligibility criteria, and communications will explain the definition and qualifying events. Trustees and HR discussed allowing staff to perform random audits of opt-out enrollments as part of routine verification; HR confirmed it conducts regular enrollment audits and would incorporate opt-out checks into existing processes.

Trustee Susie Perella Duranzo asked whether the county attorney had reviewed the form; attorney Tingwei said she had not yet but would perform an expedited review because open enrollment starts soon. The board approved an amended motion requiring employees to submit the completed group medical waiver form for conditional opt-out incentives, contingent on final legal edits and the inclusion of discussed amendments. The motion passed by voice vote.

HR staff will hold in-person and online open enrollment sessions in Kingman, Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City to explain the change and provide guidance to employees. Trustees also asked staff to research offering a supplemental Medicare option as a future agenda item.