Henderson County commissioners on Friday approved renewal of the county’s 2025–26 employee health insurance plan, accepting a 1.7% overall rate increase and keeping the existing plan and county incentive program in place.

County Human Resources Director Miss Bell told the court the insurance committee recommended staying with the current plans after quoting a 1.7% increase and multiple committee meetings. She said that the county’s wellness efforts — referred to in the meeting as the “Healthy County” program — have helped lower the county’s rate compared with the state average.

Miss Bell said the plan changes include removal of spouse eligibility verification at the plan level on Oct. 1, 2025, by the insurer; the county’s committee voted to continue its local verification practice. She also said CVS will move to out-of-network status for plan pharmacy providers effective Oct. 1, and employees will be notified about alternative pharmacy options. She said Mother Frances (a referenced provider) renewed participation.

Commissioners and staff discussed the county’s wellness requirements, which require HMO participants to have a primary care visit annually and participate in wellness activities. Miss Bell said those steps and other incentives helped keep the county’s increase below recent statewide averages. Commissioners noted the program’s four-year history and the county’s relatively low increase this year.

Motion and outcome: Commissioner Tooley moved and Commissioner Richardson seconded approval of the renewal. The motion passed unanimously.

Financial and employee impact: The county’s insurance committee said the county will absorb the county portion of the increase; some family and dependent coverage rates will rise for employees. Exact per-employee figures and the county’s total premium cost were discussed in the meeting but not fully specified in the public record.