Mohave County trustees set FY2025 benefit rates: 2% premium increase, one-payroll 'premium holiday' in December

Trustees of the Mohave County Employee Benefit Trust at their annual trustee renewal meeting approved a partial increase to employee health-care premiums and a one-payroll premium holiday for December 2025 as they set rates and benefits for the 2025–26 plan year.

The board voted to adopt an overall 2 percent increase in premium revenue for the trust, equal to roughly one-quarter of the actuarial funding gap presented earlier in the meeting; the trustees directed that the resulting increase be split roughly evenly between employees and departmental (county) contributions. The trustees also approved a one-pay-period premium holiday to occur in December 2025 so employees would not pay premiums for that pay period.

Mohave County and its trustees said the changes respond to projected increases in medical and prescription costs while preserving a multi‑million-dollar fund balance and keeping plan changes modest for the membership.

Trustees reached the decision after hearing a detailed review of calendar-year 2024 claims, vendor presentations and actuarial funding options. Gallagher actuaries recommended an 8.3 percent funding increase to reflect a blend of two years of claims experience and forward trend assumptions. Trustees chose a smaller, phased approach—closing a portion of the gap this year and reviewing experience next year—citing a healthy reserve position and the desire to limit near‑term cost shocks…