County approves insurance renewal that raises per-employee premium by $120.92 per month

County staff and consultants presented a health‑insurance renewal showing a substantial increase in premiums and a loss ratio over 100%. An actuary/pool consultant said the pool needed amount this year was 9.9% and that Val Verde County faces a double pressure from that pool adjustment and the county’s own elevated claims experience. The renewal would raise the county’s per-employee monthly premium by $120.92 to $876.68.

An insurance consultant told the court these changes reflect national and statewide medical‑cost inflation, higher pharmacy and specialty-care costs, and historically high claim severity in some plan members. The consultant noted other employers are seeing double-digit increases and that the county’s plan remains relatively generous by comparison.

Staff calculated in the meeting that employee premium increases coupled with building and other policy changes could raise next fiscal-year expenditures by roughly $516,000. Commissioners discussed education and utilization measures — including nurse lines, telehealth and member engagement — to reduce unnecessary ER visits and bring the plan’s loss ratio down.

The court voted to approve the renewal; staff committed to working with the insurer on utilization programs and to provide commissioners with additional detail about claims drivers and available member resources.