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Barry County administrator warns of rising 2026 health-care costs; proposes change to dental and optical reimbursements
Summary
County Administrator Eric Zuzga told commissioners the county expects higher health-care costs in 2026 and said the Healthcare Cost Containment Committee will present plan recommendations Oct. 14. He said department heads and elected officials will no longer receive dental and optical reimbursement but will be offered the option to purchase insurance.
County Administrator Eric Zuzga informed the Barry County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 23 that the county projects an increase in health-care costs for 2026 and that the Healthcare Cost Containment Committee has reviewed plan options.
Zuzga said the committee's recommendations will be presented to the board at its Oct. 14 meeting. As part of the proposed changes for next year, reimbursement benefits for dental and optical services will no longer be offered to department heads and elected officials; instead, those employees will be offered the option to purchase dental and optical insurance. Zuzga said the proposal is being presented to employee association bargaining units as part of ongoing negotiations.
Zuzga also told the board the County Attorney will provide a contract-negotiations update at the Oct. 28 meeting and that discussions regarding the county's proposed new jail are scheduled for October. He said he plans to attend the Land Bank Conference in Marquette during the first week of October.
The minutes record Zuzga's statements on projected costs and the proposed benefit change but do not include estimated dollar figures for the overall health-plan increase or a direct timeline for when any changes would take effect beyond the reference to 2026.
