Jefferson County commissioners voted Nov. 7 to accept a 2026 employee health insurance renewal that raises the individual employee premium and creates an optional plan that uses the Madison Health Clinic as a primary-care provider.

County staff told the board the county's stop-loss renewal increased by 4.8%, which they said is below a commonly cited regional trend of 12% to 18%. Projected claims for the plan were described as up about 8.7% for 2026. Commissioners approved the renewal package by voice vote.

The adopted changes include an increase in the individual employee contribution from $35.35 per pay period to $40 per pay period. County officials said spouse and family-tier rates will remain unchanged. Dental rates are expected to rise about 13.5%, which staff estimated as roughly $3 per month for a single employee.

The county will also offer a second plan option tied to a "proactive MD" network clinic, identified in the presentation as the Madison Health Clinic. The county said both plan options will cost employees the same amount; the difference is that employees who elect the Madison Health Clinic plan will designate that clinic as their primary-care provider and may access clinic diagnostics, well checks, urgent care and telehealth services with faster appointment availability (24'0 to 48 hours) and onsite prescription dispensing at no pharmacy charge.

Under the clinic option the county will pay a per-enrollee fee—$65 per adult and $35 per child—rather than a flat increase applied to all employees. County staff said the county will cover the additional cost, and that employees who keep their current primary-care provider but also use the clinic for episodic care may face higher co-pays with their existing PCP.

County staff said vision and other voluntary benefits remain on a rate hold and will not change with the renewal. A custom-design renewal package and contract were placed before the board for signature after the vote.

Actions and implementation: The board recorded a motion to accept the 2026 health benefits proposal and approved it by voice vote. No formal roll-call tally was read into the minutes. Staff indicated signed copies of the renewal contract would be collected for county records.