Medical Insurance
The Manatee YourChoice Health Plan is the self-funded medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, and health management plan for the employees and their eligible dependents of Manatee County Government, including all of the Constitutional Agencies.
What does self-funded or self-insured mean? It means Manatee County Government, through its own Health Plan, "Manatee YourChoice," uses their own plan design and pays for all health care directly instead of paying an insurance company to handle it. Although the Plan was created and designed by the Employee Health Benefits (EHB) section of Human Resources and is managed by the Employee Health Benefits Manager, the plan hires a "Third Party Administrator (TPM)" (Aetna) to process claims, provide customer-service support to members, and to run the provider network.
- Access to Aetna’s in-network primary care or specialist physicians with no referrals needed. Additionally, covered members and dependents are not required to select a Primary Care Provider (PCP).
- Limited coverage is available for physicians outside of Aetna’s network.
- Telemedicine (comprehensive remote-physician visits conducted online through your computer or mobile device) services are provided through Teladoc Health.
- Affordable urgent-care facility, emergency room coverage, and laboratory testing/x-rays/diagnostic imaging. Please note that advanced imaging (such as MRIs or CT scans) will require precertification from Aetna before the procedures can be approved. Consult with your medical provider for details.
- Comprehensive pharmacy/prescription drug coverage, provided by Optum Rx, is included with the medical insurance at no additional cost.
What's New in 2026?
- A new, streamlined structure in the Medical Plan allows you to choose what’s best for your family’s needs — It really is your choice! Select either the Standard Plan or the Premium Plan and that choice will apply to you and everyone on the plan... No more individual Aetna ID cards for members in your family! Everyone will be listed as a dependent under your (employee) insurance ID number for all of your Aetna plans.
- The Ultimate Plan is now called the Premium Plan. The Best Plan is now called the Standard Plan.
- The Premium Plan has a 1% rate increase (compared to 2025). The Standard Plan has a rate decrease.
- There is no longer any cotinine (nicotine) testing to qualify for the Premium Plan.
***Exclusive discounts for Aetna Medical Plan Members -- Log in to your member portal at http://health.aetna.com or use the Aetna Health app on your mobile device! From the portal, click on "Health and Wellness" and choose "Health & Wellness Discounts."
Medical Insurance Plan - Coverage Comparison
Medical Insurance Plan - Premiums
Questions? Need Help?
The Employee Health Benefits team is here to provide assistance. Please call (941) 748-4501, extension 6249 or email benefits@mymanatee.org.
Current Medical Insurance Plan members can also contact Aetna Member Services at (877) 580-5019 or log into their Aetna portal at http://health.aetna.com.