To curb rising health insurance costs, Clay County is transitioning to a self-funded health benefits arrangement for 2027, aiming to better manage expenses and risk.

Clay County Commissioners recently approved the 2027 employee benefit agreements with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, Delta Dental and The Standard Insurance Company following a presentation by Human Resources Director Kim Callahan and CBIZ consultant Matt Krull, who outlined the financial considerations behind the changes.

Callahan reported 467 county employees and 439 dependents currently receive health insurance benefits, bringing total enrollment to 906 people.

She explained while 96% of claimants incurred less than $30,000 in medical expenses, they accounted for 39% of total claims paid. The remaining 4% incurred more than $30,000 each, accounting for approximately $4.4 million (60%) of paid claims.

Among those higher-cost cases, eight claimants exceeded the $100,000 threshold at which the county’s stop-loss insura…