City reports $21.5 million in Florida Blue network discounts; wellness funds top $460,000

Palm Beach Gardens — The city reported significant health-plan savings and ongoing cost drivers to the City Council on April 3 in a presentation by Human Resources Administrator Cheryl Stewart.

Stewart said Florida Blue's network discounts saved $21.5 million in medical claims for plan year Oct. 2023–Sept. 2024 and that the city had secured $460,000 in wellness funds so far this year to support employee health initiatives. She also reported that pharmacy costs were about $3.3 million (up 7 percent) and that high-cost medical claims (cases above $75,000) rose roughly 25 percent to about $2.6 million.

The presentation noted the city's covered population skews young (average age 33) but that members 50 and older continued to drive roughly half of total claim costs, with the 60–64 age band showing the highest per-member spend. Stewart said behavioral health and musculoskeletal conditions are key cost drivers; she also reported improved diabetes (blood-sugar) control metrics among members and lower hypertension prevalence than Florida Blue government benchmarks.

Stewart told council that the plan has kept out-of-pocket costs relatively low for employees, has reduced unnecessary ER visits by steering members to urgent care, telemedicine and the employee health center, and that the city will continue wellness outreach to address chronic-condition risk factors.

Council members had no follow-up questions; staff said they would be available for further information.