Higginbotham outlines benefits cooperative, voluntary plans and administrative services to Freestone County

Higginbotham representatives presented a proposal for a governmental benefits cooperative that would provide voluntary ancillary plans (dental, vision, life, short-term and long-term disability, accident and other worksite products), enrollment technology and back-office administration to Freestone County employees.

"We are a private company," Higginbotham presenter Frank Hazani said during the presentation, and he introduced his colleague Jim Cook. The presenters described a Richardson, Texas-based public-sector operation with a proprietary enrollment platform (Benefits Hub), an employee response center, a benefits mobile app and a six-person service team to handle administration, billing and reconciliation at no direct charge to the county. They said Higginbotham is paid through industry-standard commissions from carriers.

Jim Cook, the presentation’s medical-practice leader, described…