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Committee backs AmWins bid and recommends medical-plus-Rx stop-loss at $400,000 deductible
Summary
After comparing bids from Cigna, AmWins and SA Benefits, county staff recommended and the committee approved forwarding a stop-loss contract recommendation (medical plus pharmacy, $400,000 deductible) to the county commission, citing AmWins' lack of 'lasers' and competitive pricing after an interface fee was considered.
The Williamson County Purchasing and Insurance Committee on May 21 reviewed stop-loss insurance RFP results and voted to forward a contract recommendation to the county commission after staff recommended selecting AmWins for medical-plus-pharmacy coverage with a $400,000 specific deductible.
Charles Paragas, the presenter, walked the committee through the county's current stop-loss arrangement with Cigna — specific stop-loss covering any individual medical claimant above a $400,000 deductible — and explained that the county does not currently have aggregate stop-loss coverage. Paragas said Cigna's renewal included a 9% price increase and an interface fee of $582,000 that would apply if the county moved to a different carrier.
Paragas compared proposals from Cigna, AmWins (referred to variously in the transcript as AmWinds/AmWins) and SA Benefits. He said AmWins offered competitive pricing with "no lasers," while SA Benefits quoted the lowest premium but would increase "laser" exposure (additional high-dollar individual claim liability). Paragas noted that adding pharmacy (Rx) to stop-loss coverage would raise Cigna's quote by roughly $1.6 million but that AmWins remained competitive when medical and Rx were combined. He summarized: "Our choice would be AmWins if we keep medical plus Rx and keep the deductible at $400,000." (Paragas later reiterated AmWins as the committee's recommended vendor.)
Committee members questioned vendor mechanics, including which carrier underwrites AmWins' stop-loss (Paragas identified Sun Life as the underlying carrier) and whether Cigna might waive its interface fee; Paragas said negotiations with Cigna were ongoing. Members also discussed reimbursement speed, fronting options for high-cost therapies and the trade-offs of higher deductibles ($450,000 or $500,000) versus premium savings and increased county liability.
After discussion and a motion that was confirmed on the record, the committee voted by voice to approve the recommendation and directed staff to prepare brief explanatory bullet points and a resolution to present to the county commission for final approval. The transcript records "Aye" and "Motion carries," but does not show a roll-call vote or recorded tallies.
Why it matters: the committee's recommendation directs county procurement toward a carrier that staff say limits laser exposure while providing competitive pricing that could save money relative to Cigna's renewal once the interface fee and Rx inclusion are accounted for. The committee's approval sends the recommended award to the county commission for final action.
Next steps: staff will prepare materials and a county-commission resolution asking the commission to authorize the county mayor to execute the contract with AmWins; the commission vote is required to finalize the contract.
