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Scott County Fiscal Court selects ISU Companion stop-loss plan, keeps 2026 health budget and employee premiums unchanged
Summary
The court voted to move the county’s stop-loss coverage from Symetra to ISU Companion, adopt a proposed 2026 plan budget of $4,550,000, keep employee premiums unchanged and add a gene-therapy rider.
Scott County Fiscal Court voted Oct. 23 to switch its stop-loss insurer to ISU Companion, keep the county health-plan budget at $4,550,000 for 2026 and leave employee premium contributions unchanged for calendar-year 2026. The court also approved purchasing an optional gene-therapy rider and renewing the county’s broker/service agreement.
Court members and staff said the change was driven by competitive market quotes and a lower estimated county liability under ISU Companion. “ISU Companion came in with a virtual flat renewal” for the county’s stop-loss premium compared with the incumbent, DJ Story, a consultant who participated virtually, told the court. Staff said the move reduces the county’s estimated annual stop-loss premium from about $712,000 (Symetra’s renewal) to about $518,000 under ISU Companion.
The change also lowers the county’s estimated aggregate maximum claim exposure: staff said ISU Companion’s aggregate maximum was quoted at $4.5 million versus Symetra’s request to raise the aggregate to about $5.2 million. County staff described a previously negotiated “no new laser” provision — protecting the county from carriers assigning new individual exclusions — as included in the recommended ISU Companion option.
Budget and risk assumptions were explained to the court. Staff said the county funds claims on a self-insured basis with Anthem acting as the claims administrator and the stop-loss carrier stepping in after the county’s $125,000 specific attachment point. Presenters said estimated 2025 claims run about $4.1 million and, after rebates and anticipated reimbursements, the county expects net claims near $3.6 million. Using a conservative 115% loading, staff proposed the same $4,550,000 funding level for the coming plan year and projected a working surplus of roughly $443,000 under the recommended assumptions.
The court also approved purchasing a gene-therapy rider, which staff described as coverage that would limit the county’s exposure to very high-cost gene therapies; staff estimated the rider cost at about $4.05 per employee per month (roughly $12,500 annual premium). DJ Story and staff explained that those therapies can cost hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars and that the rider reduces the risk that a single claim would destabilize the stop-loss market for the county.
Motion and vote: The court approved a bundled motion — selecting ISU Companion for stop-loss and aggregate coverage for 2026; keeping the health-plan budget at $4,550,000; not increasing employee paid premiums; renewing the service agreement with HUB International; and electing the gene-therapy rider. The motion was moved and seconded; members voted aye and the motion passed.
Why it matters: The stop-loss selection and rider affect the county’s contingent liability and the county’s ability to keep employee premium contributions stable for the next year. Court members repeatedly noted this is a year-to-year decision and that a major high-cost claim could require future adjustments.
Court members and staff said they will continue to monitor claims, pharmacy costs and stop-loss market conditions ahead of the next renewal.
