Carter County accepts Joint Powers Trust renewal; plan administrator outlines vision, dental and virtual-care changes

EKALAKA, Mont. — Carter County commissioners on April 21 voted to accept a Joint Powers Trust (JPT) health-insurance renewal that the plan administrator said would increase premiums by 8.5% for the county’s group effective July 1.

At a presentation to the Board of County Commissioners, Gary Hibitzel, representing the JPT/EBMS administration, reviewed the trust structure and detailed benefit changes for the coming plan year. Hibitzel described JPT as a not-for-profit trust that administers pooled self-insured coverage for counties and school districts, with claims administered by a third-party administrator (EBMS).

Why it matters County payroll and benefits costs will rise if the board’s acceptance of the renewal is implemented as presented. Changes to the benefit package affect employees’ out-of-pocket costs and access to services starting July 1, including a built-in vision expansion and a dental buy-up option that members may elect.

What the administrator said Hibitzel said the JPT’s renewal reflects rising medical costs and prescription-drug spending, which he characterized as a major driver of large claim totals. He said the pool’s average premium-change figure for renewals was 7.7% but that Carter County’s group faced an 8.5% increase due to a “tough year claim-wise.”

Key benefit changes described in the presentation: - Vision hardware: Starting July 1, vision benefits will include reimbursement for contact lenses and frames; Hibitzel said the supplemental buy-up previously required for vision will be built into the plan for covered employees (employees not on the county plan would still pay the listed premium). - Dental: JPT is offering an optional dental buy-up with an annual maximum benefit of up to $2,000; preventive services will be covered at a percentage, basic services at 80% and major services at 50% up to the annual maximum. Exact buy-up rates were not in the meeting packet; Hibitzel said he would provide rates before he left. - Virtual urgent care: Members will have access to an online urgent-care consult with an access/consult fee typically around $35 and an average wait time the presenter said was about 10 minutes. - Term life insurance: Hibitzel stated that term-life coverage under the plan would increase from $10,000 to $20,000 for plan members; later in the presentation he agreed to verify the increase in written renewal materials and send confirmation to county staff.

On drug-cost management, Hibitzel described programs that seek lower-cost alternatives — including use of non‑U.S. sources for certain specialty drugs in a limited number of cases — and said pharmacy management has generated savings for some members.

Commission action and next steps Commissioner Dan Dinstell moved to accept the JPT renewal (the motion was seconded and approved by the two commissioners present). Hibitzel said he would provide the county with dental buy-up rates and written confirmation of the term-life amount prior to the county’s open-enrollment and renewal processing.

Ending County staff were instructed to distribute plan details to employees ahead of the June open-enrollment period; Hibitzel requested the signed renewal paperwork by May 1. County payroll and human-resources staff will confirm final premium figures and plan documentation before enrollment opens.