District presents 2026 benefit renewal: no medical premium increase for employees, ASO fee up 3%

The Okaloosa County District presented its employee benefit renewal package for plan year 2026 and recommended the board approve the program renewal. Sarah Cato, director of risk management, told the board that “on the medical side, there's no increases for any of the employees,” while family dental premiums will rise slightly and retirees will see increases to single and family coverage.

Cato said the district pays employee single coverage, so employees who are active and on single plans would not see a premium increase. She also explained that the only notable administrative increase is the ASO (administrative services only) fee charged by UnitedHealthcare, which the district negotiated to a 3% rise. “That's just the administrative fee that we're charged from UHC so they can handle the claims on the back end,” she said.

Open enrollment will run from Oct. 13 to Nov. 13 and new coverages would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, if approved. Cato also noted the district is adding a menu of voluntary benefits, such as pet insurance, legal services, ID‑theft protection and guaranteed‑issue whole‑life products; those options are paid for by employees or retirees who elect them.

The transcript records the presentation and board discussion but does not include a recorded vote adopting the renewal.