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Commission adopts $30,000 stop‑loss cap for county health plan
Summary
After reviewing HR recommendations, commissioners voted to set the county's stop‑loss (reinsurance) threshold at $30,000 under the grandfathered Blue Cross plan to reduce county costs while leaving employee benefits unchanged.
Ramsey County commissioners voted to change the county's stop‑loss threshold for the Blue Cross Blue Shield plan from $20,000 to $30,000 under the existing grandfathered plan, following HR's recommendation.
Staff explained the higher stop‑loss limit would reduce the county's premium cost without changing plan benefits for employees under the grandfathered arrangement. Commissioners discussed a more aggressive $50,000 option but opted for $30,000 as a compromise. Commissioner motion to adopt the $30,000 stop‑loss threshold passed on roll call: Hodes — aye; Volk — aye; Will Helmy — aye; Gessner — aye.
Staff cautioned the grandfathered plan may end in the future and that when it does some costs could shift; for now the commission directed HR and finance to proceed with the stop‑loss change and to keep employees informed.
