Amherst County risked a 33.5% Anthem renewal; consultants offered benefit changes and a Local Choice quote is pending

Pierce Group told the Amherst County Board of Supervisors at a budget workshop that Anthem has proposed a 33.5% renewal increase if the county keeps its current fully insured benefits, and consultants presented two benefit redesigns that would cut that hike to about 20% or roughly 15% on a blended basis.

The county27s insurance consultant David Charland, vice president of employee benefits at Pierce Group, said the county moved to Anthem effective July 1, 2024 after its prior carrier exited the market. Charland said the firm has about five months of Anthem utilization data and that "we were fortunate to move July first of 20 24 at a premium decrease of approximately 4% to Anthem keeping your benefits rich and intact." Gray [last name redacted], vice president of consulting services at Pierce Group, reviewed that utilization data for the board.

Why it matters: rising health premiums are a principal driver of the FY26 budget gap the county is trying to close. County staff incorporated the insurance estimates into revenue/expenditure projections and said health plan costs materially affect whether the board can fund a…