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Board retains 2026 benefits plan and approves changes aimed at reducing health-care costs
Summary
The board approved Resolution 2025-09-123 to retain nonunion, elected officials, commissioners and judges' benefits for 2026 and adopt consultant recommendations including switching prescription carve-out, raising stop-loss deductible and adjusting ER copays to reduce costs.
The Lubbock County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 8 approved Resolution 2025-09-123 to retain benefit plans for nonunion employees, elected officials, commissioners and judges for the 2026 plan year and adopt several changes recommended by the county's consultant to reduce health-care costs.
Jennifer, a county human resources representative, told the board the consultant recommended carving out prescription benefits to RxBenefits while keeping the OptumRx formulary, a change expected to save about $1,000,000. Jennifer said switching the stop-loss carrier to Symetra and increasing the specific deductible from $250,000 to $300,000 would save roughly $190,000 a year. The consultant also recommended raising the emergency-room copayment from $100 to $150 to encourage use of urgent care; staff estimated ER copay changes would save about $14,000 annually.
The resolution also continues the county's long-standing decision to opt out of the statutory caps under Public Act 152 while benchmarking against those caps. Jennifer said the county is self-insured and that opting out is counsel-advised; she told commissioners that in the past year the county exceeded the PA 152 hard cap by $89,000 (about 1.1%), but because the county has opted out there was no legal violation.
Commissioner Sample moved the resolution; Commissioner Deaton seconded. Commissioner Nakagiri asked whether analysis supported raising the stop-loss deductible; Jennifer said consultant analysis and a bid review showed the county typically has one or two claims above the deductible in a year and that four claims would be the breakeven point for the higher deductible. The board approved the resolution by voice vote (passed; 8 yes, 0 no, 1 absent).
Jennifer said the resolution affects fewer than 600 employees and retirees but covers more than 1,000 covered lives when dependents are included. Staff said the recommended changes are expected to bring the county below PA 152 benchmark caps in the next plan year.
