The LaSalle County Insurance Committee voted to forward a contract renewal with Blue Cross Blue Shield for active employees and to purchase individual stop‑loss coverage with a $150,000 attachment point, with the renewal effective Jan. 1, 2026. The committee approved the resolution by roll call and will sign the final paperwork at the full board meeting in two weeks.

The renewal matters because the county faces a large increase in fixed costs and stop‑loss premiums that had been projected at about 21.7% but returned at 24.6%, driving the county’s total expected plan cost from about $10,330,034 to about $12,612,713. Mike, a Thornton Group consultant who presented the analysis, said, "the actual renewal from Blue Cross came back, 24.6%." He also said the stop‑loss premium was renegotiated to $362 per employee but that represented "a 45% increase."

Committee members were shown two exhibits: a market comparison of fixed and variable claim factors and a contribution workbook that models employee and employer cost‑sharing under the new premiums. Thornton Group told the committee the fixed cost component is billed monthly and includes administration, rebates and stop‑loss premiums; the group quoted a current fixed cost of roughly $965,142 and a negotiated increase that raises fixed cost by approximately $657,474. The presentation also estimated a 21.92% aggregate increase and projected that employer contributions would rise by roughly $1,410,000 while employee contributions would rise by roughly $299,000.

Discussion focused on the drivers of the increase: large ongoing individual claims and marketwide shifts in prescription rebates as carriers move specialty drugs to biosimilars. The presenter said the stop‑loss market has been especially volatile: "we got it finally negotiated down to $362 for stop loss. But, again, that's a 45% increase." Committee members asked whether raising the individual attachment point (deductible) would reduce premium — Thornton Group cautioned that for an account of this size an underwriter might not accept a very high attachment point and that ongoing large claims would likely eliminate most savings. The presenter also said there are currently multiple members with large ongoing claims, noting "we currently have 4 over the 150, and 2 getting closer" (referring to $150,000 attachment triggers).

The committee considered alternatives (other carriers and third‑party administrators). Thornton Group said competing proposals yielded slightly lower fixed costs in some quotes but would have produced significant member disruption and potentially higher claim costs because of differing network discounts. The presenter warned that some markets may "laser" ongoing large claims, assigning higher specific risk to individual claimants, which could further skew pricing.

Formal action: the committee moved, seconded and approved forwarding the Blue Cross renewal and the purchase of individual stop‑loss coverage (attachment $150,000) to the full board. Roll call votes recorded on the motion were James Bailey — yes; Craig Emmett — yes; Doug Stackley — yes; Tom Walsh — yes; Nancy York — yes. The resolution and exhibits will be presented at the full board meeting for signatures.

The committee was told updated detailed claim data will be available in roughly two weeks and that the county will continue reviewing plan design and provider‑network strategies aimed at lowering long‑term cost of care. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 25 at 9:30 a.m.