Rio Blanco County keeps current medical plan, adds small employee premiums and $200 spousal incentive

Rio Blanco County commissioners on Oct. 17 voted to keep the county’s current PPO 5 medical insurance plan for 2026 while requiring employees to pay modest premiums for dependent coverage and offering a $200-per-month incentive for employees who remove a duplicate-covered spouse or other plus‑one from the county plan.

The board said the county’s renewal had arrived with a 25% increase for 2026 and presented several scenarios for sharing cost increases. Commissioners approved a plan combining scenario B — a $30-per-month charge for employee-plus-1 coverage and $40 per month for family coverage — with scenario E, a $200-per-month incentive for employees who move a duplicate-covered spouse or plus‑one to that person’s other employer coverage. “It’s an incentive rather than … the stick,” one commissioner said when describing the rationale for the payment option.

Under the plan the board approved, the county will continue the PPO 5 plan with the county maintaining single coverage for employees and asking employees to contribute small monthly…