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Seward County approves employee-benefits renewal, raises staff contributions
Summary
Seward County commissioners voted to renew the county’s benefit plan for 2025, adopting contribution model 2 that raises employee premiums and approves several vendor and benefit changes recommended by IMA, with a county cost increase of $490,468.
The Seward County Commission voted to renew the county’s employee-benefit program for 2025, approving a contribution model that increases employee premium contributions and adopts several recommended vendor and plan adjustments presented by benefits consultant IMA.
Nick Johnson, account executive at IMA, and Ryan Powell presented renewal options and recommended maintaining the county’s grandfathered plan design while increasing employee contributions and adding several optional benefits. The consultants said the renewal as presented would result in higher county costs but offered alternatives that would lower the county’s increase if employees shifted to higher-deductible options.
The commission adopted contribution model 2, which raises the employee-only contribution to $55 per month and the family contribution to $335 per month. Under the adopted package, the county will: keep the existing medical plan design (maintain grandfathered status), continue IMA’s pharmacy advocate program, renew dental coverage, renew group life insurance, add a voluntary vision plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, enhance the voluntary life insurance option with Advance, and move the employee-assistance program (EAP) to Lucid Health (expanding EAP sessions from one to up to eight). IMA said its pharmacy program had saved the county about $114,000 since implementation and estimated an additional $300,000 in potential savings if remaining eligible employees enroll.
IMA presented two core cost scenarios: a straight renewal with no plan design changes that the consultants said would amount to a 12.2% increase (approximately $572,000), and a dual-option design with higher deductibles that could reduce the renewal to an 8.3% increase (about $388,000), depending on employee migration. IMA’s recommendation — and the package the commission adopted — assumed the county would maintain the grandfathered plan design, increase employee contributions as noted, accept a $22,572 administrative credit tied to adding optional services, and move the EAP to Lucid. The county’s total estimated increase for medical, dental, life and EAP under the adopted package was reported at $490,468.
Commissioners noted that 157 employees responded to an internal survey; 143 of 157 respondents described comprehensive health coverage as "very important." Commissioners also discussed contribution and deductible trade-offs and asked clarifying questions about where certain numbers in the packet derived from. Commissioner Abbott moved to adopt the recommended renewal and contribution model 2; Commissioner Fuller seconded. The motion passed on a show of hands; the commission recorded the action as approved.
The county will continue to promote enrollment in the IMA pharmacy program and staff were directed to proceed with the vendor changes approved by the commission. The adopted changes take effect under the county’s normal benefits-administration timeline and assume continuing negotiation and final documentation with carriers and vendors.
