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What is The Cochise Combined Trust?


The Cochise Combined Trust (CCT) is an employee benefits consortium that is open to eligible Arizona public entities in Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Gila, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties.

Formed July 01, 2002, the Trust had two (2) members: Cochise College and Cochise County until July 1, 2020, when Central Arizona College joined the Trust. Each participating entity appoints two (2) Trustees to represent their entity with regards to Trust administration. Trustees meet on a quarterly basis to collectively administer medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, short-term disability and life insurance benefits for their employee populations.

Over the years, providing affordable health insurance has become a strenuous journey with many hurdles. The combination of strict budget constraints and rising healthcare costs has forced public entities to find innovative ways to maintain control of benefit costs. CCT provides member entities with a way to maintain a greater degree of control over their employee benefits programs through the benefit of their collectively larger numbers.

If your public entity is interested in finding out more information about CCT, or the benefits of a structure similar to this one, contact Stephanie Moore with Erin Collins & Associates, Inc and CCT Administrator, at (928) 753-4700 ext. 303.

What are the benefits of membership?

Benefits of CCT membership include:

  • Enhanced financial security resulting from improved spread of risk over the larger group;
  • Enhanced bargaining power when purchasing benefits-related products and services;
  • Lower overhead for plan operations; and
  • The ability to customize program offerings to meet specific needs and desires among the members.

Who is eligible for coverage?

Each member entity establishes its own benefits eligibility criteria, subject to a minimum number of hours (not less than twenty per week) in a benefits eligible position. Employee’s meeting the employer’s criteria are eligible for CCT coverage. Eligible employees may cover their lawful spouse and/or children up to age 26 (including natural children, step-children, children for whom the employee has legal guardianship or adopted children) under the Medical Plan. Dental & Vision have separate requirements.

Who is the benefits provider?

Although CCT does contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield for their medical provider network and AmeriBen for medical claims, your benefits provider is CCT. CCT also contracts with network providers for Prescription coverage (Navitus) and Dental coverage (Ameritas), but again, the benefits provider is CCT. For Vision coverage, CCT contracts with EyeMed and for Life/AD&D insurance coverage, CCT contracts with Securian.

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