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Emery County approves 9.8% medical insurance renewal for county employees
Summary
County commissioners approved a one-year renewal with PEHP for plan year July 1, 2025'June 30, 2026, after insurer revised its initial increase to 9.8%; dental, vision and life plans remain rate-held.
Emery County commissioners voted April 1 to renew the county's employee medical, dental, vision and life insurance plans for the July 1, 2025'June 30, 2026 plan year, adopting a negotiated 9.8% increase for the medical plan.
Jeff Kelsey, the county's insurance broker from Intermountain Insurance Services, told the commission the group's current loss ratio is about 130%, meaning claims payments have exceeded premiums by roughly 30 percent. Kelsey said PEHP initially proposed about an 11% renewal before underwriting and actuarial discussions reduced it to 9.8%.
The commissioners recessed for questions on plan mechanics. Kelsey clarified that premium periods refresh July 1, while plan-year cost-sharing elements (deductibles, copays and out-of-pocket maxima) refresh on the calendar year; a county staff member later corrected that deductibles and coinsurance refresh on July 1. Commissioners asked whether the county could press the carrier further; Kelsey said the 9.8% figure was the lowest likely outcome given current group experience.
Commissioner (speaker 3) moved to approve the renewal and a second was recorded; Warwood, Leonard and Jensen were recorded as voting "Aye" and the motion passed.
The commission signed the renewal and staff indicated a signature would finalize implementation. Dental, vision and life plans were reported as rate-held for the coming year.
Next steps: county staff will complete required signatures and update employees on the new rates and effective dates.
