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Appling County picks lower-cost health plan option, adds chronic-condition program
Summary
County commissioners voted to adopt a benefits renewal plan that limits the 2025 premium increase to 16% and to add a voluntary chronic-condition management program; dental, vision and life insurance vendor selections were also approved.
Appling County commissioners voted to adopt a 2025 employee benefits renewal that limits the premium increase to 16% and adds a voluntary chronic-condition management program, county staff said.
County staff introduced Mike Malloy of Lighthouse Benefits, who told the board that claims last year totaled about $3,200,000 and that the county’s loss ratio was roughly 101%. Malloy recommended several cost-containment measures and said an alternative plan he proposed would lower the insurer’s proposed 19% increase to about 16% while allowing the county to implement targeted care-management services. "Our claims this past year were 3,200,000.0. Our loss ratio was a 101%," Malloy said during the presentation.
Commissioners discussed timing for follow-up and reporting. Malloy told the board he would return with updates on claims and program performance in six months and recommended earlier launch of some wellness efforts, including through a vendor the county already uses for other services. Commissioners asked that the firm provide interim reports on spending and claims in the months before the next renewal.
On a motion from a commissioner, the board approved the lower-cost plan with the chronic-condition program and adopted vendor changes for voluntary benefits. The board approved Humana for dental and vision offerings (including a high/low dental option that omits orthodontia for employees who do not need it) and selected Renaissance for voluntary life and short- and long-term disability products. County staff said the life-insurance vendor change carries a two-year rate guarantee and would save roughly $1,320 annually for the county’s employer-paid life coverage.
Open enrollment for the new plans was announced to department heads; staff said employees will be able to enroll online. County staff also said the chronic-condition program would be voluntary and estimated the program cost to participating employees at about $4–$6 per month, depending on participation.
The board’s action was procedural: it approved the selected plan option and voluntary program; staff will return with program outcomes and claims updates as planned.
