Court approves new stop‑loss insurer for county health plan; Everest bid lowers premium by about $152,000

Nueces County on Sept. 24 approved a stop‑loss insurance placement for the county employee health plan with Everest Reinsurance Company following a market marketing process conducted by McGriff. County staff reported that the winning quote preserved the county’s current contract structure — a $475,000 individual deductible and a $50,000 aggregating specific deductible — and offered a lower premium that the county’s consultant estimated would save roughly $152,000 annually compared with the county’s prior arrangement.

McGriff’s representative told the court that underwriting terms remain unchanged from the current policy and that Everest was the most competitive bidder for the county’s enrollment level (about 946 employees). Commissioners asked for clearer, ongoing communication from the benefits/insurance committee and staff about procurement and vetting steps; several commissioners asked that future updates be shared earlier with the committee and court given the policy’s significance to the county’s FY26 budget.

Why it matters: The stop‑loss re‑placement reduces the county’s anticipated health‑plan stop‑loss premium and will affect the county’s benefits budget for the coming year. Commissioners directed staff to improve transparency and to involve the county’s insurance committee in procurement reviews.

Next steps: County HR and McGriff will finalize contract documentation and proceed with the plan change effective Oct. 1; staff will coordinate vendor onboarding and employee communications.