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Board approves 12% health‑insurance renewal; county and employees to share cost increase
Summary
Washington County supervisors approved a 12% renewal of the local choice health insurance program for fiscal 2025–26. County staff said the increase will be shared equally between the county and employees, with the most expensive family plan rising to $737 per month.
At the March 25 meeting, Human Resources staff presented a recommended renewal for the county’s Local Choice health insurance program covering county and constitutional‑officer employees.
Ms. Wells, the county benefits staffer, said the insurer proposed a 12% increase in premium costs. “We are proposing to share this increase equally among the county and our employees,” she told the board, adding the county seeks to preserve current employer/employee contribution ratios.
The board approved the renewal. The motion to adopt the renewal and the premium rates passed unanimously, recorded as 7‑0. Board minutes show the county will carry approximately half of the increase (about 6 points of the 12%) and employees will pay the other half.
Employee cost impact. Staff clarified during the meeting that the highest‑cost family plan (the comprehensive $500 deductible option) will move to $737 per month (an employee share of about $368.50 per pay period after the cost split); staff said that represents an increase of roughly $79 per month for the family plan compared with current employee rates.
Who is covered. Staff said the rates cover county general‑government employees as well as constitutional officers and certain partner agencies (the sheriff’s office, treasurer, commissioner of the revenue, commonwealth’s attorney, circuit clerk, Department of Social Services, and library employees).
Why it matters. Rising health‑insurance premiums are a significant recurring county expense and affect employee take‑home pay. Board members noted the rise was unavoidable given market pressures and that recruiting and retaining employees (particularly dispatchers, who were noted separately as receiving a 6% adjustment) depends in part on competitive benefits.
Implementation. The board authorized the county to finalize the renewal with Local Choice and apply the rates for the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 plan year. No additional county budget amendment was reported at the meeting; implementation will appear in the final FY 2026 budget.
