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Beaver County plans switch from UPMC plan to Highmark; first‑year savings estimated at $670,000
Summary
County HR presented a proposed complete switch of the county's health plan from UPMC to Highmark, saying network access would expand, the wellness points requirement would be removed, and the county expects roughly $670,000 in first‑year savings; commissioners were briefed and the change is scheduled for formal action.
Beaver County human resources staff told commissioners on Wednesday they are proposing a full switch of the county's employee health coverage from the UPMC Health Plan to Highmark, citing broader network access and projected first‑year savings.
The HR presenter said the change would "be a complete switch from our insurance from UPNC health plan to, Highmark." She described the new arrangement as keeping access to UPMC facilities and doctors while adding Highmark's broader in‑network providers, which "is gonna give our course a greater selection of doctors to use."
Staff said the plan design would remain largely the same for deductibles and copays, but the county would eliminate the requirement to earn wellness points so that employees automatically receive lower deductibles. On pharmacy coverage, the HR presenter said the formulary will be "for the most part, it's gonna be the same," but that coverage for GLP‑1 medications prescribed strictly for weight loss will change: the prior BMI requirement of 30 would increase to 40 for weight‑loss coverage, while GLP‑1 drugs used to treat diabetes would be unaffected.
When asked for the estimated savings, the HR presenter said: "For the first year, it would be 670,000." She and other staff said the county will join a state county government health consortium, which they said should provide benchmarking data, better analytic review and additional purchasing leverage.
Commissioners did not vote during the work session; HR said the benefit change and related resolutions (numbered 23 and 24 on the agenda) will be presented for approval at the next public meeting.
