Meriwether County staff and commissioners heard two finalist presentations on Oct. 28 as part of a request for proposals for an insurance broker serving county employee benefits.

MSI Benefits Group presenters Ashley Gilder and Tommy Hayes described a centralized, team‑based service model headquartered in Kennesaw, Ga., that emphasizes in‑house enrollment (the Xevo platform), a designated benefits consultant and account manager, a live member‑advocacy team to assist employees with claims and appeals, billing reconciliation, and no additional fees for compliance services such as 1094/1095 filings. MSI told the board it conducts annual market evaluations and can pursue a range of funding approaches, including self‑funding; presenters cited a prior client case where pharmacy‑benefit redesign and pharmacy cost‑management reportedly saved roughly $1.8 million in year one after moving from fully insured to a self‑funded arrangement.

Mark 3 presenters (Rusty Parker and colleagues) likewise emphasized in‑house services, a large enrollment staff paid on salary rather than commission to provide objective guidance during enrollments, local enrollment‑manager support during open enrollment and an in‑house technology team that builds customized employee and HR portals. Mark 3 representatives described a new intergovernmental pool scheduled to begin July 1 (designed to spread risk among public entities), wellness coordination, and guaranteed‑issue vendor commitments for voluntary benefits.

No formal action was taken Oct. 28; the presentations were part of the RFP evaluation process and will inform staff and commissioners as they recommend a broker to serve Meriwether County.