County Insurance Update Shows ACA Plan Still Cheaper

From the Blackford County Commissioners meeting on September 21, 2026

Insurance Representative Angela Smith told Blackford County commissioners that the county's reimbursement-based health coverage was still running well below recent group-plan quotes as officials prepare for 2027 open enrollment.

Smith said 52 employees were enrolled, up from 31 at the end of the prior year. She said the county's average cost for the first seven months of 2026 was less than $500 per employee per month, compared with more than $700 per month last year.

She also said recent group-plan quotes were running about $900 to $1,100 per employee per month. CareSource is leaving the county market, she said, leaving Ambetter and Anthem as the two plan choices.

Smith told commissioners ACA rates were projected to rise about 15 percent next year, which she estimated at roughly $43,000 under current enrollment. No vote was taken during the discussion. She said she would send commissioners the reimbursement and health savings account figures they would need before making a decision.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County - County Commissioner Meeting - September 21, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.

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