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Fort Worth: skyrocketing employee medical claims push proposal for higher city contributions, wellness changes
Summary
HR staff told the council health-claims costs have jumped and the city proposes a 7% increase in its contributions for health coverage for FY26, a possible 3% employee premium increase, continued coverage of GLP weight-loss medications, and wellness-program changes including optional wellness days in lieu of a cash payout.
Joanne Henson, an HR presenter at the Fort Worth budget work session, told council members the city's self-funded health plan has seen a sharp rise in high-cost claims and that staff are proposing changes to contributions and wellness incentives for fiscal year 2026.
Henson said the city carries stop-loss insurance with a $1 million per-claimant threshold; however, one plan participant currently has a lasered stop-loss that requires the city to pay the first $1,800,000 for that claimant. Henson said the city hit the stop-loss threshold twice in the first 10 years she worked there and five times in the last two years. She added that from 2023 to 2024…
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