Johnson County commissioners on Oct. 27 approved changes to the county's 2026 employee health plan that include switching the plan's stop-loss carrier from QBE to WellPoint and raising the specific stop-loss deductible from $175,000 to $200,000.

Michael Petersfield, partner at LHD Benefit Advisors, told commissioners the county's plan has "continued to run well" following a transition to UMR earlier this year and that projected expenses for 2026 are expected to be relatively flat. Petersfield said the county had budgeted for a 13% increase in stop-loss premiums, but an RFP produced an alternative with WellPoint that reduced that renewal by about 1.7% from the budgeted amount.

Petersfield said the only change proposed for 2026 was the stop-loss carrier change and deductible increase. A commissioner noted that increasing the deductible to $200,000 produces roughly a $100,000 annual premium savings compared with the $175,000 level but also raises the chance that a single high-cost claimant will exceed the deductible. The board approved the renewal by voice vote.

Why it matters: Stop-loss insurance limits the employer's exposure to very large individual medical claims. Raising the specific deductible reduces short-term premiums but shifts more initial risk to the employer if large claims occur.

What was not specified: The transcript did not list a formal written motion text, the individual vote tally, nor the full list of plan design details beyond the stop-loss carrier and deductible change. The county did not provide the final premium-dollar figures for the 2026 plan in the spoken record.

Speakers quoted: Michael Petersfield, partner, LHD Benefit Advisors, said the plan "continues to run well."