DuPage County board adopts a package of health-plan cost controls, phases out certain weight‑loss drug coverage

At a DuPage County Board meeting, Marsh McLennan warned that claims growth — especially from GLP‑1 weight‑management drugs — is driving a sharp rise in the county’s employee health costs, and the board approved a package of plan changes and vendor moves intended to reduce next year’s projected increase. Chris Boucher, employee benefits adviser at Marsh McLennan, told the board the county’s employer net cost could rise from roughly $30.3 million to about $35.0 million in 2026 — a $4.7 million increase, or 15.3% — if no changes are made.

Boucher said much of the 2025 deterioration is tied to prescription drug usage. "The number of unique users [of weight‑management GLP‑1s] has increased," he said, noting 258 users through June 2025, and added, "The numbers are growing exponentially. This is not sustainable." He presented alternatives aimed at slowing cost growth and said a package of changes the board approved would reduce the projected employer increase to "a little over $2,000,000" or about 6.7%.

The board’s decisions targeted multiple parts of the plan. The board voted to: raise the PPO stop‑loss specific deductible from $125,000 to $175,000 for 2026; move the county’s life insurance contract to Dearborn Life after a competitive solicitation; introduce…