LaSalle County plan running above expected costs as consultants cite large claims, pharmacy trends

LaSalle County’s self‑insured health plan is running above expected costs for 2025, county insurance consultants told the LaSalle County Insurance Committee on Oct. 24, as a small group of very large claims and specialty pharmacy drugs pushed employer spending higher.

At the committee’s monthly meeting, Beth (Horton Group consultant) said the plan was “running at a 109% of expected, 109.2%,” and that large‑claim activity — not enrollment change — is the principal driver. She said enrollment was “very little change,” with two additional employees and four members year‑over‑year for the plan.

Committee members were told the plan has had 12 large claims that exceed 50% of the plan’s specific deductible (the transcript references “75,000”). Beth said the number of large claimants matched last year’s total but that…