Custer County authorizes brokers to solicit bids for employee benefits and workers' compensation

The Custer County Board of County Commissioners voted May 27 to authorize two insurance brokers to solicit market proposals for the county’s employee benefits and workers' compensation coverage.

County staff recommended awarding a broker-of-record letter for employee benefits (medical, dental, vision, life and ancillary benefits) to AccuSure and a separate broker assignment for workers’ compensation to Network Insurance Services. The board adopted both motions after a public discussion of current arrangements with CTSI.

Staff told commissioners that CTSI currently administers the county’s medical, dental, vision, life and workers’ compensation coverages through self-insured pools. The RFP responses included proposals that would solicit multiple carriers, third-party administrators and stop-loss carriers; staff said AccuSure’s proposal would reach 20–25 carriers and multiple TPAs and stop-loss providers.

In presenting the options, staff described different funding models: fully insured, level-funded and self-insured plans. Under a self-insured model, the county would hold premiums in a restricted internal fund to pay claims; unspent funds would remain with the county rather than being retained by a pool administrator. Staff did not recommend a change but said the broker process would provide comparative data on costs and networks.

Commissioners discussed local provider networks and asked that brokers consider in-network access to the Valley’s clinic and Salida providers when soliciting proposals. Staff said the selected broker has experience with the local clinic and Heart of the Rockies in Salida, and that relationship could support a local network if carriers agree.

The board approved both broker authorizations. Staff will issue broker-of-record letters, collect proposals, and return recommended options to the board before any decision to withdraw coverages from CTSI; the county must notify CTSI by Oct. 1 if it decides to leave CTSI’s pools.