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County Keeps Most Premiums Level, Lowers Family Cost on High-Deductible Plan After 9.3% Renewal Increase
Summary
County staff presented a 2025 health-plan renewal showing an average 9.3% rate increase. The county will lower the family premium for the high-deductible plan to $754 per month, absorb about $169,000 from reserves, and keep other tiers level to ease employee burden.
County staff on Tuesday briefed supervisors on the annual health insurance renewal for the county’s self-funded plan shared with the schools and the Town of Gretna.
Human-resources staff (identified as Miss Vanderheide) said the renewal produced an average expected increase of 9.3 percent. To reduce pressure on employees, the county plans to lower the family premium on its high-deductible plan to $754 per month and keep most other tiers at their current rates; the KeyCare 30 plan tiers other than family will see the 9.3 percent applied, while employee-only premiums remain low in comparison.
Vanderheide described the plan as self-funded under Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield; the county pays expected rates into its insurance fund and pays claims from that reserve. She said the county’s insurance reserve will absorb roughly $169,000 of the renewal cost and that the fund balance stood at about $290,000 for short-term reserves; the broader employee health fund balance was cited at approximately $5 million.
Vanderheide and supervisors emphasized recruitment considerations, noting that family coverage costs were a common barrier for candidates, particularly in public-safety recruitment. She said the county’s group includes the county government, local schools and the Town of Gretna and covers about 1,460 total members (employees, spouses and dependents).
Outcome: Board members received the report and directed staff to place the recommended rate changes on the regular meeting agenda for formal action. Staff said they will provide new rates in the board packet and offer education during open enrollment to encourage employees to consider the high-deductible option, which the county also supplements with a $1,000 health-savings-account contribution for those enrolled.
Clarifying details discussed: average expected renewal increase (9.3 percent), planned high-deductible family premium ($754/month), estimated reserve impact ($169,000), reserve balance cited ($290,000 short-term reserve; $5,000,000 in the employee health fund), and the combined plan membership (~1,460).
