Lavaca County tables supplemental-insurance broker selection; approves pension rate and shortens health plan waiting period

Lavaca County Commissioners on a June 2025 regular meeting heard two five-minute presentations about voluntary supplemental insurance and then voted to delay choosing a broker while seeking employee input. They also approved continuing the Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS) contribution at 17% for the 2026 plan year and changed the county health-insurance waiting period from the date of hire to 30 days, with COBRA administration moved to BenefitConnect.

The presentations came from Higginbotham Public Sector and Foundation Benefits. Frank Hedmonic of Higginbotham told the court the firm’s voluntary-benefits cooperative covers nonmedical products "from a digit dental, vision, all the way down to identity theft" and said the cooperative’s goal is "to build better benefits at a lower cost." He also said many products are offered through payroll deduction and that some rates are guaranteed for two to…