County Commission | The Magazine May 2019 | Page 14

FROM THE COVER
alone self-insurance,” he said. “As a result, the Funds have
enjoyed outstanding growth and support from counties.”
Special Qualities
Essentially, the Funds are two large companies
with many moving parts – membership, boards of
trustees, ACCA staff, Fund attorneys, a third-party
administrator, actuaries, auditors, legal and investigation
services, and investments.
So, what’s special about self-funded insurance? For
one, the pool of risk is homogeneous since all members
are either county governments or closely related. Some
of the most common county-related members are 9-1-1
agencies, water authorities, and community punishment
and corrections authorities.
For another, the top decision-makers are county
officials and staff leaders. Unlike a typical company,
their No. 1 goal is not turning a profit. These trustees
are charged with giving direction and leadership for the
greater good of the Funds, and they bring with them
real-world experience at the local level.
Coverage is custom-tailored for counties – not too
much, not too little. Members are protected from the
wild swings common in the commercial insurance
market. When the boards roll out new risk-reducing and
cost-saving initiatives, members can trust that savings
will be returned to them.
Recent Milestones
Looking back over these past few years, one highlight
shines with particular brightness – establishing County
Risk Services, Inc. (CRS) as the Funds’ third-party
administrator.
CRS, a nonprofit organization working exclusively
for the ACCA Funds, handles the daily claims
administration process and safety services for members.
The decision to go this route was made by county officials
and staff leaders on the boards of the Association and the
Funds, and it is an indicator of the Funds’ strength and
maturity.
But don’t overlook the motivation. According
to Henry van Arcken, ACCA Director of Insurance
Services, “The whole reason for doing it was to enhance
our services to our members.” n
The Association of County
Administrators of Alabama
salutes its 2019 honorees!
ACAA: An Affiliate of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama
Roger Rendleman
LEE COUNTY
County Administrator of the Year
Service Awards
14 | MAY 2019
—10 years—
Marietta Webster, CCA —10 years—
Meredith Hammond, CCA
GENEVA COUNTY MARENGO COUNTY