Commissioners approve insurance carrier changes, stop-loss shift and organ transplant coverage

Dubois County commissioners approved a package of employee-benefit decisions on Sept. 2, including a carrier switch for short-term disability, a change in stop-loss deductible and renewal of employee assistance and dental plans.

Human Resources Generalist Markie Rhodes recommended switching the county’s short-term disability carrier from AFLAC to One America effective Jan. 1, 2026. Rhodes said One America currently provides the county’s basic life and long-term disability coverage; moving short-term coverage to the same carrier would simplify administration and, according to the staff presentation, avoid an employer-paid basic life premium increase of $0.04 per $1,000 (an annual increase of $2,305) that otherwise would occur. Rhodes said One America would waive preexisting condition limitations for employees currently enrolled in AFLAC short-term disability and offers a 60% benefit with a $1,500 weekly maximum. Deputy Auditor Brooke Greenwell described administrative frustrations and customer-service problems with AFLAC.

The commissioners voted to switch short-term disability coverage to One America. They also approved a stop-loss renewal with iiSi (Intermediary Insurance Services, Inc.) at a $100,000 specific deductible after Houchens Insurance Group presented comparative proposals showing lower premiums for the higher deductible; the minutes list iiSi $100,000 at $835,761 versus iiSi $80,000 at $990,210 and HCC Life $80,000 at $1,324,815. The board also approved continuing Optum organ transplant coverage (noted in the minutes at $6.18 per single plan and $14.17 per family plan), renewing the LifeSpring Employee Assistance Program at $1.84 per employee per month, and renewing HRI Dental at the premiums presented.

The minutes record unanimous approval of these items; details on employee out-of-pocket changes or the impact on individual employees were not specified in the record provided.