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Board approves January 2026 health‑insurance renewal after negotiations reduce projected increase to 11%
Summary
The district approved a negotiated UnitedHealthcare renewal package that reduced an initial 23.9% renewal to an 11% premium increase for January 2026, contingent on benefit changes including higher prescription copays and reduced wellness funding.
The West Allis‑West Milwaukee School Board approved the district’s recommended health‑insurance renewal for January 2026 on Sept. 22 after the district’s broker and carriers negotiated a package that reduced initial renewal estimates.
District staff said an initial renewal estimate from UnitedHealthcare under the district’s Nexus ACO plan returned 23.9% year‑over‑year. Competing bids from Anthem (35%) and Network Health (37.9%, with an 80% disruption estimate for employees if Aurora hospitals were excluded) were also received. Following negotiations and plan design changes, the administration recommended an 11% increase for January 2026.
Recommended changes that contributed to the lower renewal included increasing prescription copays by $10 per tier, reducing wellness funding from $7.50 to $5.50 (dollars that had supported staff gym equipment and related wellness items), and removing a nurse‑liaison position that had been included in the 2022–23 renewal package. District staff and the board noted the local market offered limited competing bidders in the RFP process.
The administration presented the renewal as a compromise to limit premium increases while avoiding larger network disruption for employees. The board voted to approve the renewal on a motion and second; the president declared the motion passed with no opposition voiced on record.
Ending: Administration said it will continue to monitor employee impacts and provide follow‑up information; the district indicated the RFP process produced limited bidders and that staff will communicate plan details to employees before the January effective date.
