Warren County staff recommend 10% increase to 2026 benefit funding; propose new stop‑loss carrier and changes to pharmacy and wellness benefits

Warren County Board of Commissioners staff presented recommended changes to employee health plan funding and related benefits for 2026, including a proposed 10% increase to total funding rates, a recommendation to change stop‑loss carriers to reduce fixed premium costs, and proposals to ease access to weight‑loss medications and pilot a lifestyle spending account.

The recommendation presented would raise the county’s and employees’ combined funding rates by 10% for 2026. Under the scenario shown to commissioners, employees would continue to pay 15% of premiums for the buy‑up plan and 0% for the base plan; staff also presented alternate scenarios that keep a 15% employee cost share or that reduce the buy‑up share to 10% in future years if trends allow. Staff said open enrollment is scheduled for the first week of November and indicated timelines require a decision by the commissioners or final staff direction to prepare materials.

County benefits staff emphasized that the plan remains comparatively “rich” versus private‑sector and some public benchmarks, particularly the 0% employee share on the base plan, and recommended continued monitoring of pharmacy and medical trends before making…