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WESLACO ISD selects new TPA, PBM and dental vendors and agents to lower benefit costs
Summary
After consultant review and benefits-committee recommendations, trustees awarded the third‑party administrator contract to Assured Benefits Administrators (using UnitedHealthcare network), approved VerusRx as PBM (bundled with the TPA) and selected Aflac for dental after price/design comparisons. Board also approved a slate of local agent firms to work voluntary products.
The board approved several awards and selections aimed at restructuring employee health and voluntary benefits.
For the district's self‑funded health plan, consultants and the employee‑benefits committee recommended awarding third‑party administration to Assured Benefits Administrators (ABA). Staff explained ABA maintains a direct contract with a local facility partner (NAP) at a Medicare‑based contract rate staff described as favorable compared with some other networks. The board approved the TPA award following committee recommendation.
Trustees also approved VerusRx as the pharmacy benefit manager in combination with ABA. Consultants said bundling the TPA and PBM produces administrative savings, and staff estimated the combined arrangement would reduce administrative costs versus some Blue Cross Blue Shield options. On dental, staff presented an apples‑to‑apples comparison of calendar‑year maximums and premiums and recommended Aflac; trustees approved that award as well.
Trustees discussed agent arrangements for voluntary products and selected a slate of local agents (Jeff Everett & Associates, Tamez, Ortegon and Salazar) to serve as agents of record. One trustee proposed considering an exclusive co‑broker/shared‑services model; trustees asked staff and agents to flesh out how shared commissions and responsibilities would be managed going forward.
Board votes: the TPA, PBM and dental awards and the agent slate passed after committee presentation and trustee discussion.
