Larimer County explains new Surest medical plan: $0 deductible, co‑pay structure and portal issues

Larimer County benefits staff on Feb. 6 hosted a webinar for employees to explain the county’s new Surest medical plan, which has no deductible and relies on co‑pays until members reach in‑network out‑of‑pocket maximums of $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for families. Rachel Sporleter, Benefits Team Lead, led the presentation and answered questions about coverage, the member portal and claims processing.

Why it matters: the Surest plan replaces traditional deductible‑based coverage for many county employees and changes how some outpatient services are reimbursed. Staff emphasized tools to avoid surprise charges — including a provider finder and clear co‑pay listings in the Surest portal — but also warned of a cumbersome reimbursement process for massage and acupuncture that the county is working to simplify.

Key plan features and examples

“The Surest is a $0 deductible plan,” Rachel Sporleter said, summarizing the core design. Preventive services such as annual exams, mammograms, colonoscopies and immunizations are covered at 100% when performed in network. Telehealth through Teladoc is also available at no charge, and many virtual mental‑health providers appear with $0 in‑network co‑pay tiles on the portal.

Benefits…