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Hillsdale County board approves joining West Michigan Health Insurance Pool to reduce 2026 costs
Summary
After an extended debate over self-funded and pooled options, the board voted 5–0 to join the West Michigan Health Insurance Pool beginning Jan. 1, 2026, citing estimated first-year savings and lower projected employee out-of-pocket maximums.
The Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners voted on Oct. 14 to have the county join the West Michigan Health Insurance Pool effective Jan. 1, 2026, after an extended briefing comparing that pooled option with a self-funded alternative offered through AccuSure/ASR.
Derek (county benefits/budget staff) and outside consultants reviewed multiple plan designs and estimated impacts on the general fund and employees. The packet compared three primary approaches: (1) renewing with Blue Cross under the county’s then-current HRA arrangement, which had a $5,000 individual/$10,000 family deductible reimbursed down to lower effective amounts; (2) a self-funded…
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