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Finance Committee reviews 2026 budget timeline and explores self-funded health insurance option
Summary
County staff presented a 2026 budget schedule and said Dodge County is gathering quotes to consider moving from a fully insured health plan to a self‑funded model; the committee plans joint meetings with Human Resources to evaluate options before the January 1 renewal.
County staff updated the Dodge County Finance Committee on the 2026 budget schedule and on preliminary work to evaluate a move from a fully insured health plan to a self-funded (self-insured) model.
Staff outlined the proposed schedule: the county board would receive a digital version of the final budget at the beginning of October, a hard copy would be placed on supervisors’ desks the evening of the Oct. 21 county board meeting, public notice would be published Oct. 14, a public hearing is planned for Oct. 30, the finance committee would consider amendments Nov. 3, and the county board would take final action Nov. 12. Staff said these dates comply with county board rules and the 15-day public-notice requirement.
On health insurance, staff said Dodge County currently is on a fully insured plan and that the county asked brokers for quotes focused on self-funded (self-insured) plans and administrative service providers. Staff explained key differences: a self-funded model requires the county to carry claims risk and therefore to secure stop-loss (catastrophic) insurance and set aside reserves to cover cash-flow timing; it can provide more claims data and flexibility to design plan coverages and networks. Staff said Dean (the county’s current network/provider referenced in discussion) could remain the local network under a self-funded design, or the county could choose different administrative arrangements. The county’s renewal date is Jan. 1 and open enrollment is in October; staff said they expect a decision by July or August at the latest after joint meetings with the Human Resources Committee.
Staff noted utilization exceeded 100% in the most recent year (figure not specified) and that self-funding carries both potential long-term savings and up-front reserve requirements. The committee asked staff to present an apples-to-apples cost comparison from the broker and to meet jointly with Human Resources to weigh plan design, stop-loss costs and reserve needs before making a decision.
