InsightForge Sample Report — El Paso County Sales Intelligence

Prepared for Michael Bauman, BLS — March 21, 2026

Executive Summary

El Paso County is a major county government based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with approximately 1,300–1,541 employees and a 2026 budget of $532.3 million. The county operates a self-funded EPO medical plan administered by UMR with UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network access, and already offers supplemental products through Unum.

Key Findings

• Self-funded EPO medical plan administered by UMR with UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network; Express Scripts for pharmacy
• Unum already provides supplemental products including hospital indemnity, critical illness, and accident insurance
• Retiree health benefits controversy in October 2025 — county tried to charge ~300 retirees for previously free coverage, reversed after media pressure
• $6.7 million allocated in 2026 budget for recruitment, retention, and pay-for-performance — signals ongoing workforce stability challenges
• El Paso County actively litigating against Colorado’s COBCA collective bargaining law, claiming potential $25 million cost impact
• Glassdoor rating 3.5/5 for compensation and benefits; employees cite insurance “nickel and diming” and leadership disconnect as pain points
• Open enrollment runs late October to early November; plan year is calendar year (Jan 1)
• Colorado health insurance premiums requesting average 13.6% increases for 2026, creating cost pressure for self-funded plans

Organization Profile

Current Benefits Snapshot

• Self-funded EPO medical plan administered by UMR with UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus network access
• Pharmacy benefits through Express Scripts
• Supplemental products through Unum: hospital indemnity, critical illness, and accident insurance
• Open enrollment: late October to early November
• Plan year: calendar year (January 1)

Compliance & Regulatory Profile

• ALE Status: Applicable Large Employer — 1,300+ FTEs well above 50-employee threshold
• COBCA: Colorado Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act applies; county actively litigating against the law, citing potential $25M cost
• Colorado FAMLI: Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance program
• ACA Reporting: Self-funded plan requires Form 1095-C filing for all full-time employees

Recent News & Developments

Retiree Health Benefits Controversy and Reversal: El Paso County Health Plan Trust Board attempted to charge ~300 retirees for previously free health coverage, estimating $200K savings in 2026 and $440K in 2027. After media reports, the Trust Board voted unanimously to reverse the decision.

2026 Budget Approved — $532.3 Million: Board approved balanced 2026 budget totaling $532.3 million on December 10, 2025. Includes $59.1M for Public Works, $6.7M for recruitment/retention/pay-for-performance, and $12M for pavement preservation.

Collective Bargaining Lawsuit: El Paso County filed lawsuit against Colorado over COBCA, claiming the collective bargaining mandate is an unfunded mandate that could cost $25 million.

Colorado Health Insurance Premium Increases: Health insurance companies requesting average 13.6% higher premiums for Coloradans in 2026.

Growth & Stability Signals

• Recruitment & Retention Investment: $6.7 million in 2026 budget allocated specifically for recruitment, retention, and pay-for-performance
• Personnel Policies Update: Personnel Policies Manual updated May 20, 2025
• TABOR Refund Obligations: $4.48 million TABOR refund from 2024 excess revenues

Key Personnel Profiles

Pain Points & Opportunity Mapping

• Retiree health benefits controversy reveals cost pressure on the Health Plan Trust — leadership willing to explore cost-saving measures even at political risk
• Glassdoor reviews cite insurance “nickel and diming” — employees perceive benefits erosion, creating receptivity to supplemental coverage enhancements
• $6.7M recruitment/retention budget signals workforce instability — benefits improvements are a lever the county is already investing in
• COBCA litigation and $25M cost exposure add budget uncertainty — voluntary benefits that shift cost to employees without reducing perceived value are strategically attractive
• 13.6% premium increase environment in Colorado puts additional pressure on the self-funded plan’s reserves

Benefits Benchmarking

• Self-funded EPO via UMR is common among Colorado counties of this size
• Unum supplemental suite (hospital indemnity, critical illness, accident) is competitive but may have gaps in life, disability, or dental/vision voluntary options
• Express Scripts pharmacy aligns with industry standard for self-funded government plans

Competitive Broker Landscape

• Current broker relationship not identified from public sources — Form 5500 Schedule C would reveal commission details
• UMR/UnitedHealthcare relationship suggests a broker with strong UHC market access

Industry Landscape

Key Trends

• Healthcare Cost Inflation in Colorado: 13.6% average premium increase requested for 2026
• GLP-1 Medication Cost Pressure: Colorado’s state plan removed GLP-1 drug coverage for obesity conditions effective July 1, 2025 — county plans may face similar cost/coverage decisions
• Government Workforce Collective Bargaining: COBCA effective July 1, 2023 — reshaping employer-employee dynamics across Colorado counties
• Small Employer Definition Change: Colorado SB24-073 — may affect downstream market dynamics

Regulatory Updates

• Colorado FAMLI — Family and Medical Leave Insurance compliance requirements
• ACA Employer Mandate — ongoing Form 1095-C filing obligations for 1,300+ FTEs
• COBCA Compliance — collective bargaining framework affecting benefits negotiation

Research Methodology

Total research queries executed: 24. Sources consulted include elpasoco.com, admin.elpasoco.com, LinkedIn, ZoomInfo, Glassdoor, GovernmentJobs.com, Colorado Springs Gazette, KOAA, KRDO, and additional public records databases. Every factual claim in this report was independently verified through a separate verification stage before delivery.