County approves 2.44% health insurance renewal; prescription co-pay changes proposed

Summary

Dickenson County approved a health-insurance renewal with a roughly $75,000 (2.44%) increase and a prescription co-pay change designed to reduce brand-name dispensing: generic co-pay to fall from $10 to $5; brand from $20 to $30; specialty unchanged at $35. Staff said the change aims to reduce prescription costs, which are about 29% of plan expenses.

The Dickenson County Board approved the county’s annual health-insurance renewal, which county staff said represents approximately a $75,000 increase — roughly 2.44% — over the current year.

Staff credited negotiations with the county’s benefits managers and stop-loss carrier for keeping the renewal increase small relative to double-digit increases reported elsewhere. To reduce prescription spending (about 29% of plan costs), staff recommended lowering the generic co-pay from $10 to $5 and increasing the brand-name co-pay from $20 to $30; specialty co-pays would remain at $35. Staff said employees may request a waiver for brand-name drugs if a generic is ineffective for clinical reasons.

Supervisors raised questions about impacts on employees with chronic conditions such as diabetes and expressed interest in convening benefits staff and the insurance committee for additional discussion. Staff said they would coordinate with benefits administrators and consider outreach to employees about changes.

The board voted to approve the renewal and the recommended co-pay adjustments by voice vote.