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County reviews 2025 health plan renewals and considers voluntary emergency air/ground coverage for employees
Summary
Human Resources presented 2025 renewals and plan options: Avera submitted a lower‑cost buy‑down proposal, Wellmark offered alternative pricing with savings under the MERP buy‑down approach, MetLife dental increased modestly, and staff proposed a voluntary short‑term disability and optional MASA emergency air/ground coverage for employees.
Human Resources and benefits consultants presented the county’s 2025 health benefits renewal options. Consultant Sonia Norby described a MERP buy‑down approach that has reduced hard premium costs; Avera’s renewal under the buy‑down came in roughly 4% below current costs while Wellmark presented a proposal that could produce additional savings if the county elected to change carriers and maintain the buy‑down design.
Consultants noted prescription drug tiers and PBM contracts vary between carriers and recommended tailoring pharmacy tiers if prescription cost exposure is a concern for employees. MetLife dental renewal showed a modest increase subject to a 7% contractual cap. Vision benefits remain with VSP and showed no increase.
HR proposed an optional short‑term disability policy (MetLife) with a 14‑day waiting period and 60% wage replacement up to $1,500/week, which would be offered as a voluntary benefit with employer payroll accounting implications; commissioners discussed sick‑bank policy alignment if short‑term disability were adopted. Benefits staff also presented an optional voluntary MASA emergency air/ground coverage product (roughly $8/month single, $17/month family) to cover large out‑of‑network air and ambulance charges; consultants said many counties offer it voluntarily and some jurisdictions later subsidized it when take‑up was high.
Commissioners asked for more specificity on prescription‑drug impacts and overall premium comparisons and directed staff to provide additional detail to aid the final 2025 benefits decision.
