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County insurers brief commissioners; panel recommends Baylor Scott & White options with nonstop card
Summary
An outside benefits presenter outlined market shifts after Curative signaled contract nonrenewals and recommended county move to Baylor Scott & White plans paired with a 'nonstop' card or a PPO option. Commissioners pressed for enrollment materials and clarification on local provider coverage and emergency transfers.
A benefits presenter (S5) told the court the group insurance market has changed from a handful of carriers to dozens, naming Curative, Gravy and Sidecar as new entrants. S5 said Curative will not renew its contract with Baylor Scott & White and that network losses make Curative an unreliable option for the county this year.
S5 recommended county members be offered a Baylor Scott & White HMO paired with a funded nonstop card (to make out-of-pocket costs effectively $0), a PPO paired with nonstop, and a traditional Baylor Scott & White $0-deductible plan with a $3,000 out-of-pocket maximum. Commissioners asked about Waco and Tyler provider access, emergency transfers, EOB (explanation-of-benefit) processing, and enrollment materials; S5 agreed to distribute PDFs and QR codes for employee review. "It's a true $0 deductible, $0 co pay," S5 said when describing the nonstop-card approach.
