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Commissioners approve 7% health‑insurance premium increase and a longevity discount plan
Summary
Stark County commissioners voted to budget a 7% county contribution increase for 2026 health insurance and to adopt a longevity discount that reduces employee premiums after set service milestones, following Human Resources Director Joetta Piercy’s presentation on rising claims and plan change options.
Stark County commissioners voted to budget a 7% county contribution increase for 2026 health insurance and approved a longevity-based discount for employees after hearing that the county’s medical plan is paying out more in claims than it collects in premiums. Human Resources Director Joetta Piercy said the insurer quoted a 19.3% premium increase if plan design is unchanged and presented alternatives that lower the county’s premium jump by changing cost‑sharing and deductibles. "We have paid out more in claims than we have paid in premiums," Piercy told the commissioners, and said plan changes — higher deductibles, higher out‑of‑pocket maximums and slightly increased office and ER copays — would reduce the insurer’s proposed…
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