Committee reviews proposed 2026 health-plan changes; employee raises HPS billing concerns

Walworth County Human Resources Committee reviewed proposed updates to the county health plan on June 18, including a required deductible increase tied to HSA rules, an option to allow employees to complete full bloodwork at an Aurora clinic for a lower fee, an MRI reimbursement incentive pilot and proposed formulary changes that could require step therapy for certain biologic drugs.

Josh Pollock, the county’s benefits manager, told the committee the Internal Revenue Service’s 2026 increase to the minimum deductible for high-deductible health plans means the county’s single-plan deductible must rise by $50 and the family deductible by $100 to remain HSA-eligible. “We are required by the IRS to follow those guidelines,” Pollock said. He added the county’s current high-deductible plan is at the IRS minimum and that recent…