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Jay County approves USI as benefits broker after discussion of ICHRA and rate options
Summary
Commissioners voted to switch the county's benefits broker to USI Insurance and to keep the county on the PHP fully insured plan after USI outlined options including an ICHRA estimated to save about $245,000 for 2025; the motion passed by majority vote.
Chad Aker, president of the Jay County Commissioners, presided as USI Insurance presented benefits options to the board. Tom Schweisthal and Alex Dickman, vice presidents of employee benefits for USI, recommended retaining the county's fully insured PHP plan if USI became broker but also described alternatives including partial self‑funding and an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA).
Schweisthal told commissioners the ICHRA approach—under which employees would purchase individual marketplace plans and the county would contribute a fixed amount—could reduce volatility and he estimated a county savings of about $245,000 for 2025. He also described using underwriter work and pharmacy‑specific solutions to address one very large drug claim that affects less than 0.02% of covered members. "It would be the difference between a pension and a 401k," Schweisthal said when describing how the ICHRA changes employees' choices.
Auditor Emily Franks expressed support for the incumbent broker, OneDigital, citing institutional knowledge and the employee experience the vendor has provided. Franks also flagged timing concerns: employee benefit elections must be finalized before Thanksgiving, and she said the timeline will matter for any transition.
Commissioner Brian McGalliard moved to change the county's broker to USI Insurance and to keep PHP fully insured as the carrier; Commissioner Chad Aker seconded. Commissioner Rex Journay declined to second the motion when it was initially offered; the minutes record the motion as passing by majority vote. The commissioners did not provide a roll‑call vote in the minutes.
Next steps noted in the meeting record include USI reviewing underwriting materials and stop‑loss calculations (USI flagged a change in stop‑loss from $75,000 to $125,000) and working within the timeline to allow employee elections.
