Mower County Health Plan is 'win-win' for both employees and taxpayers

Oct. 15—Employees get $0 out-of-pocket options while taxpayers save at least $678K in 2025

The Mower County Board of Commissioners has approved a new employee health plan for 2025 that maintains current in-network coverage, reduces employee premium contributions and saves taxpayers 8.6% or more as compared with the renewal offered by its current health insurance carrier.

According to a press release Tuesday, the Mower County Health Plan is administered by Self Fund Health.

Key benefits of the Mower County Health Plan for employees and their families include:

—Broader in-network coverage that includes local providers and health systems where employees currently receive care, as well as a national PPO network. For those who use in-network providers, out-of-pocket costs for care will be lower next year than they are in the current health plan.

—Access to $0 out-of-pocket care at HELPcare Clinic, a direct primary care (DPC) clinic in Austin and Rochester. This includes office visits, lab tests, minor procedures, injections, health coaching and more.

—Opportunities to get $0 out-of-pocket specialist and surgical services through referrals from HELPcare Clinic or the Self Fund Health Nurse Navigator to high-quality providers. The Nurse Navigator will also help plan members obtain specialty medications through sources that can eliminate copays.

—A pay raise for most employees because less will be withheld from their checks for monthly premium contributions.

The Mower County Health Plan also will save taxpayers a minimum of $678,000 as compared with renewing the previous plan. Expected savings are $882,000 or 12.3% off the renewal.

"The Mower County Health Plan includes everything in our current plan, but with new options for better primary care at no cost," says Kristina Kohn, Mower County Human Resources Director. "Our benefits committee comprised of employees unanimously recommended this plan, and county commissioners are particularly enthusiastic about adding HELPcare Clinic membership. As employees take advantage of the new $0 out-of-pocket options, they'll be taking control of long-term health plan costs."

Three organizations helped Mower County leaders create the Mower County Health Plan:

—HELPcare Clinic (HELPcare.health/clinic) is a direct primary care (DPC) clinic that opened in Austin in February 2022 and has grown to 990 active members between its offices in Austin and Rochester. Services are included at no extra charge in its monthly or annual membership dues. HELPcare Clinic services will be paid by Self Fund Health, and all care will be free to Mower County Health Plan members.

—Self Fund Health (selffundhealth.com) is a Wisconsin-based company that develops and administers competitive self-funded health insurance plans for employers in the Midwest as an alternative to traditional fully funded of self-funded plans.

—North Risk Partners (northriskpartners.com) is a full-service independent insurance agency specializing in strategic insurance solutions for businesses and individuals. Mower County engaged North Risk Partners as its advisor to develop the Mower County Health Plan in collaboration with Self Fund Health and HELPcare Clinic.

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