Committee forwards 11% health-plan premium rise after actuarial review

The Lewis County Finance and Rules Committee voted to forward a draft resolution to the full Board of Legislators recommending an 11% increase in county health‑plan premiums, a move county staff said is aimed at maintaining the plan's reserve and covering projected claims.

Susie Phillips, an actuary with Gilroy Kernan, told the committee Milliman’s projection shows “an increase of 11.2% is needed to cover what is anticipated to come in in claims and expenses.” Phillips said the county is currently at about a 100% loss ratio through nine months of the plan year and that Rx rebates (estimated at $250,000 to $300,000 per quarter) are expected to offset near‑term shortfalls.

County staff explained the change in plan-year timing — moving the renewal date to January 1 to align with the county fiscal year — requires a seven‑month interim policy for 2026. Staff also said the county's reserve was about $3,050,000 as of the previous day, and that the recommended mid‑point increase is intended to maintain that balance without tapping reserves.

Committee members pressed staff on why last year’s increase produced a different outturn; staff responded that comparisons must adjust for full insured premiums included in some accounting lines and that the actuarial recommendation is based on the county’s self‑insured experience. The committee moved the draft resolution (draft resolution number 6) to the full board for action without a roll‑call vote recorded in committee.

The full board will consider the resolution at its next meeting; the increase is proposed to take effect June 1, 2026.