Starke County to keep Anthem plan for 2026 after broker secures credit, negotiated rate relief

Starke County meeting participants voted to retain their current health insurance carrier, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, for 2026 after staff reported negotiation results that reduced an initial renewal offer.

Speaker 4, who presented the renewal estimates, said Anthem initially submitted a 28.43% renewal increase but, after marketing the account to competitors including UnitedHealthcare, PHP and Cigna, Anthem agreed to a $49,000 premium credit that staff said brings the adjusted increase to about 13.5%. "We received a renewal at 28.43% increase," Speaker 4 said, and later added that Anthem "give[s] us a 49,000 premium credit, which is gonna show on the invoice, which brings us down to a 13.5% increase." Speaker 4 recommended staying with Anthem as the most competitive option after that negotiation.

Why it matters: staff told the board carriers cited recent claims activity as the primary driver of the requested increase. Speaker 4 reported multiple high-cost claimants and ongoing claims that carriers used to justify higher rates. The presentation included staff'read estimates for monthly and annual premiums that the board discussed while assessing plan affordability and employee impact.

Board action: Speaker 2 moved "to stay with the same plan," referencing the negotiated rate; Speaker 3 seconded. The board approved the motion by a voice vote; the transcript records multiple "Aye" responses but does not record a roll call or a numeric tally. Speaker 4 said staff will proceed setting up the online enrollment system and begin work with internal personnel on open enrollment if no further issues arise.

Plan details and alternatives: Speaker 4 said there would be no changes to plan design or deductibles in the presented proposal and that ancillary lines such as life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, vision, dental, critical illness, hospital indemnity and accident coverage are on a rate hold. Speaker 4 also offered to present alternatives with higher deductibles at the board's request.

Next steps: staff will proceed with open enrollment preparations and finalize premiums with the carrier. Speaker 4 indicated the renewal is effective Jan. 1 and carriers generally like decisions about 30 days beforehand; the board had planned to revisit the item at its meeting on the 17th only if additional issues arise.

Notes on figures: the presentation included several numerical figures read aloud (for example, a monthly medical premium referenced as $185,029.50 and an annual premium referenced as $2,171,354.03). Some line-item figures were unclear when read in the transcript; all monetary figures above are reported as stated in the meeting record and may be subject to final carrier invoice adjustments.