TYLER, Texas (EAST TEXAS NEWS) – The Smith County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved a series of changes aimed at addressing the rising cost of healthcare for county workers. The changes will take effect on the county’s health plan starting October 1, 2025.
“The goal today is to find ways to save money for taxpayers while ensuring that all county employees and their loved ones receive the care they need,” said District 2 Commissioner John Moore.
In recent years, the cost of healthcare for county employees has risen from about $10 million in 2023 to about $13 million in 2024.
“We project about $16.6 million for this year. Therefore, we have realized that the cost of this activity for our employees has increased,” said Smith County Judge Neal Franklin.
Among the changes approved is a new $500 copayment for emergency room visits. The change was prompted by the fact that some employees were going to the ER for ailments that could be treated at an urgent care clinic or via telemedicine.
“We had an employee who went to the ER 50 times,” said Human Resources Director Esmeralda Corona.
According to Franklin, the change could save the county more than $600,000.
“When a visit is for a possible flu, where someone might have gone to an urgent care center but instead went to the ER, we really want to encourage them to go to an urgent care center because that way we spend less money from the plan, which is taxpayer money,” Franklin said.
In another cost-cutting move, the commissioners court approved an audit of dependents to ensure that only those authorized on the plan are covered. The results could save the county between $17,000 and $121,000.
“Often what happens is that when renewal comes, people simply check the same box as before. This will highlight the importance of making sure it is correct,” Moore said.
In the current budget year, the county has transferred $2 million from the general fund to the health insurance fund. The county auditor said that if the trend continues, the transferred funds will range between $3 million and $3.5 million by the end of the fiscal year.
