District recommends renewing UnitedHealthcare plan with design changes to limit rate rise

The West Allis-West Milwaukee School District administration recommended the district renew its fully insured UnitedHealthcare plan for 2026 with several plan design changes intended to reduce the proposed rate increase.

The recommendation would raise overall premiums about 11% compared with a negotiation without plan changes that had pegged an earlier renewal higher; administration said that reversing all changes would have produced a larger increase that would have a substantially greater budget impact. The board heard a staff presentation on plan experience, market options and the trade-offs of higher prescription drug cost-sharing and reduced wellness funding.

Why it matters: Health insurance is the district’s largest employee benefit expense and affects both the district budget and employee paychecks. Board members pressed staff on how changes would affect access to care and the district’s budget position.

District staff and outside brokers briefed the board on the district’s 2025 claims…