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Harrison County approves 2026 insurance renewals, switches reinsurance to IOA; fixed costs rise about $83,000
Summary
The commissioners voted 4–0 to approve the county's 2026 insurance renewals, accepting a $1 per‑employee monthly TPA increase and a roughly 13% fixed‑cost increase (about $83,000) and authorizing a reinsurance switch from Symmetra to IOA; retiree Medicare supplement rates were flagged for further review.
Harrison County commissioners on Nov. 20 approved the county's 2026 insurance renewals, opting to switch stop‑loss reinsurance from Symmetra to IOA and to accept a modest county cost increase.
George Harmon, an insurance consultant with the Nitsky Group who presented the packet, recommended "option 1" to renew with IOA, keep the Imagine360 TPA (with a $1 per‑employee‑per‑month increase) and assume a roughly 13% increase in fixed costs. "So we're gonna switch from Symmetra to IOA," Harmon said, adding that the fixed‑cost increase would amount to about $83,000 based on current enrollment.
Why it matters: the change affects the county's self‑funded health plan structure. Harmon said the move preserves member benefits and ID cards while shifting the county's reinsurance counterparty after Symmetra proposed substantial across‑the‑board increases. He told the court IOA offered a no‑new‑laser clause through the 2027 plan year for existing high‑cost claimants and described IOA as "a plus‑rated carrier" that other public entities have used.
Key details reviewed by Harmon: - TPA Imagine360: $1 PEPM increase to cover fixed costs. - Fixed costs: a 13% increase, roughly $83,000 total for the county based on current enrollment. - Reinsurance: recommendation to move from Symmetra to IOA; Harmon said Symmetra had proposed a 31% increase to some clients, prompting the search for alternatives. - Laser exposure: one existing member may carry a laser (an extra carve‑out) of about $50,000 above the current $125,000 stop‑loss level; Harmon noted historically only a minority of lasers actually reach the projected cap. - Retiree Medicare supplement (Part D/retiree supplement): Harmon said the supplement faces a substantial market increase (about $60 PEPM). He said there are roughly 52–53 retirees on the plan and promised to return in December with alternative proposals for retirees. - Reimbursements: Harmon said the county should expect stop‑loss reimbursements from Symmetra of about $162,000 that will flow back into the county's claims fund.
Commissioner discussion focused on whether employees would see changes; Harmon emphasized there would be no changes to members' benefits or ID cards and described the county contribution decision as discretionary. After discussion, Commissioner Ebarb moved to approve the recommendation and Commissioner Timmons seconded; the court approved the insurance renewals 4–0.
The consultant said staff would prepare and sign a disclosure form for the carrier transition so the reinsurance arrangement can be effective Jan. 1, 2026. Harmon also said he would return with a retiree‑supplement alternative no later than December.
The court recorded the approval as a formal action; no member motions to modify benefits were made during the meeting.
