Parkway board approves 2026 benefits plan; votes to remove GLP‑1 weight‑loss coverage for 2026

The Parkway School District Board of Education approved new health and benefits plan designs and providers for 2026 on Sept. 10, adopting premium increases and coverage changes the district says are intended to stabilize its self‑funded insurance fund.

Board action came after more than an hour of staff presentations and public discussion about the district’s projected plan‑year shortfall and a set of recommended changes intended to produce roughly $10.9 million in revenue and savings for the district’s self‑funded insurance account.

District staff told the board that the recommendations include a 25% increase in district contributions to certain premiums, a 15% increase in employee premiums, a 25% increase in retiree premiums, and an across‑the‑board $100 monthly increase to one base plan. Staff also proposed removing coverage for GLP‑1 medications when used for weight loss and eliminating a premium plan option. The package, staff said, would generate or save about $10.91 million and leave the district still paying roughly 76% of total premium dollars for plan year 2026.

“This is just a courtesy or a service that we offer to our retirees. This is not something that they have to opt into,” the district benefits staff member said when describing how Parkway administers retiree…