Georgetown County was selected from more than 185 employers in the Eastern coastal U.S. to receive the Gallagher High Performance Employer Award for Best Results in Physical Wellbeing for 2023.

The award was presented May 28 by Gallagher, one of the world’s largest insurance brokerage and risk management consulting firms. The award is given annually to employers Gallagher has determined to be the best in their region at both healthcare performance and controlling healthcare costs within their agency. Georgetown County moved to administering its own health insurance plan back in 2017 and opened a health clinic for county employees and their family members covered under the county-administered plan. Employees can visit the clinic when sick or for routine and preventative care at no cost. Blood and lab work ordered by the clinic, as well as prescription medications received there are also at no cost to the employee. 

The result has been a healthier workforce and a cost savings for the county.

“Georgetown County is actually seeing lower healthcare costs on a five-year average, while other employers are typically seeing these costs increase,” said Steve Love, who presented the award on behalf of Gallagher.

While the industry average trend for health care costs has increased by 8% from 2019-2023, Georgetown County’s health care costs have decreased by 13.11 percent over that same period. More importantly, employee rates of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and metabolic disorders have decreased. From 2019-2023, high blood pressure among county employees has decreased by 35%, diabetes by 24%, high cholesterol by 44% and metabolic disorder by 9%.

“Hats off to employees obtaining these metrics, but also the county and its leadership. What they are doing here is very forward thinking,” Love said. “It’s really something the county should be proud of.”

Not only has Georgetown County yielded results in decreasing per member per month claims, there has been no increase to employees’ cost contributions toward their health insurance since 2018.

“We deal with a lot of clients and this is really unheard of these days,” Love said. “It’s nothing short of miraculous. Controlling costs is important, but improving the lives of employees is critical.”

In assessing employers for the annual award, Gallagher also looks beyond costs and physical health. They make sure the county is working to improve mental and emotional wellbeing also. Love called attention to financial wellness programs being offered, as well as career advancement programs. He additionally highlighted the diversity of the population in the wellness program – it includes people of various ages and levels of health and fitness.

He said the county’s leadership team should be commended, for continuing to look for ways to improve. 

“At every meeting, they say ‘what else can we do,’ ” he said. 

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