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Board selects Anthem for county employee medical, dental and vision plans; employee contributions held
Summary
After competitive review, commissioners approved changing the county’s medical, dental and vision coverage to Anthem (matching existing plan design) and to hold employee deductions; broker John Leggett said the change would keep the county’s increase to roughly the mid‑single digits compared with renewal alternatives.
Harris County commissioners voted May 6 to switch the county’s medical, dental and vision insurance to Anthem and to leave life and disability benefit providers unchanged.
John Leggett, the county’s health‑insurance broker with MSI Benefits Group, told the Board he solicited market quotes after an initial renewal from the incumbent insurer was substantially higher. Leggett said the most competitive fully insured option was a matching‑benefit offering from Anthem; with the county holding current employee deductions, the Anthem option produced an estimated increase “just under 5%.”
County Manager Cheryl had earlier told the Board that the county’s healthcare broker recommended Anthem and observed a roughly 4.76% increase in the recommended option. The broker said keeping current employee deductions was the recommended approach so employees do not see their take‑home pay offset by increased premiums.
Open enrollment is scheduled for June 2 and June 3 at the convenience center, and the county will move dental and vision to Anthem as well. Voluntary life and short‑term disability options will see only minor employee cost adjustments, and the county-provided basic life ($25,000) and employer-paid long‑term disability were not changed in the approved motion.
Action taken: the Board made and carried a motion to select Anthem for medical, dental and vision coverage and to maintain existing employee deductions; life and disability providers remain unchanged.
