Representatives from Southern Benefits Solutions and AmeriLife presented proposed voluntary supplemental insurance options to the Harrison County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, saying the plans would be paid by employees and would not increase county costs.

The proposal, presented by Jay Iberly of Southern Benefits Solutions and Keith Patterson with AmeriLife Benefits, recommends adding a permanent life policy with an optional long-term-care benefit, a short-term disability income plan paying 60% of wages for up to 12 weeks, and an accident-expense plan that pays lump sums tied to the severity of injury. Iberly said these would sit alongside replacements for existing Colonial Life products: cancer, critical-illness and hospital-indemnity plans offered to employees today.

Iberly said the whole-life option could permit long-term-care payments equal to about 6% per month of the policy's death benefit and, in some configurations, benefits payable up to a maximum equal to 200% of the death benefit before any residual death benefit remains. He described the disability plan as replacing roughly 60% of an employee's income for 12 weeks if illness or injury leaves them unable to work; accident benefits would provide cash for medical deductibles or household expenses. He also said some products include wellness credits that can offset premium cost when employees obtain preventive care.

The presenters said premiums would generally be age-banded (older enrollees pay more) except that the recommended hospital indemnity product would be composite rated so employees pay the same price regardless of age. They identified MetLife and Allstate as potential carriers and described a consolidated-billing arrangement that would allow the county to remit a single payment for employees' elected plans. Iberly emphasized the vendor would provide on-site education, a call center and a benefits portal; Patterson said the vendor team would handle employee communication, enrollment and ongoing support.

Supervisors asked whether the alternatives would raise overall employee costs compared with the county's current Colonial Life offerings and whether a change would take effect at the next plan renewal. Iberly said he expects savings for many employees but did not offer final pricing; he also said any change would align with the county's next renewal and would not take effect immediately. He described administrative and education services'including in-person and call-center assistance'and said Southern Benefits staff could meet employees at a local office adjacent to the Delcourt courthouse.

No formal action was taken at the hearing; supervisors asked staff to obtain pricing comparisons and additional implementation details before placing the item on a future agenda.

County staff will be asked to return with cost comparisons and proposed enrollment timelines if the board wants to consider any of the alternatives for the upcoming renewal window.