Quarterly review: county benefits consultant reports claims under projections, prescription costs drive plan spending

A benefits consultant briefed Pratt County commissioners on quarterly claims for the county’s self‑insured medical plans, reporting the three‑month snapshot showed overall paid claims running under projected annual amounts on the two primary deductible tiers.

The presenter described two plans (a $1,500 deductible plan and a $2,500 deductible plan) covering 67 and 33–34 members respectively in the three‑month snapshot. The consultant reported an estimated annual premium figure of about $1,708,637 and said that, through Aug. 31, the $1,500 plan was about 2.8% under projected spend while the $2,500 plan was roughly 6.0% under projected spend for the period shown.

Prescription costs were a notable driver: the consultant reported $34,053.97 paid on prescription claims within one plan and a combined plan‑paid total of $54,005.05 across both plans in the reporting period. The consultant explained that generic utilization was about 80.1% while single‑source (brand) drugs — a smaller share of prescriptions by number — made up the majority of prescription cost (about 72.1% of drug cost).

The consultant showed comparative reports from Freedom Claims (the third‑party administrator referenced) and Blue Cross Blue Shield analyses of utilization and loss ratios. The consultant noted the plans had reserves — approximately $11,836.88 on one deductible and $10,064.95 on the other at the snapshot date — and reminded commissioners those funds would be used to settle claims with carriers as claims resolve.

No changes to plan design were adopted at the meeting; the presentation was an informational quarterly review and the consultant offered to follow up if commissioners or staff had questions about specific providers or claims patterns.