Wayzata board approves 12.75% health-premium renewal for 2026-27; dental rates held at 0%

The Wayzata Public School District Board of Education voted on March 23 to accept the Health Benefits Committee's recommendation to renew the district's self-funded health insurance at a 12.75% increase for the 2026-27 plan year and to keep dental rates unchanged (0%). The action was approved by roll-call vote.

Benefits and wellness manager Joanne Filseth presented the committee's analysis, telling the board the district has been self-insured since 2000 and uses stop-loss coverage to cap catastrophic costs. "It's been a really successful plan for us of these 25 years," Filseth said, and the committee unanimously recommended the renewal after an extended review of claims and reserves.

The committee highlighted recent national and regional trends in medical and pharmacy inflation and said surrounding districts are seeing increases between 10% and 22%. Filseth said the district's 25-year average increase is 6.13% and recommended the 12.75% renewal as a fiscally responsible choice to preserve plan stability. She also described optional cost-saving programs the district has added, including a "paid health" program for very high-cost specialty medicines and an optional international sourcing option for members.

Board members asked whether the change would alter plan design or network access. A board member asked explicitly whether members undergoing treatment would lose access to their providers; Filseth replied that "there are absolutely no changes to any of our plans, the design itself — networks, deductibles, out-of-pocket" and that pharmacy benefits are carved out to a separate contract with ClearScript to manage costs. "Because, yep, all contracts at the moment remain for us," she said.

The board then voted by roll call to adopt the health renewal. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from the board members present and the motion passed. The board separately moved and voted to accept a 0% increase for the district's Delta Dental plan for 2026-27, citing claims experience and available fund balance.

The benefits committee members named during the presentation included representatives from teacher, custodial, nutrition and other employee groups; staff thanked the committee and the consultant who supported the analysis. The committee said it weighed options such as raising deductibles, changing networks, or increasing premiums and concluded the recommended renewal balanced fiscal responsibility with benefit continuity.

The board approved the two insurance-rate recommendations during the special regular meeting; implementation details will be carried out by district staff and reflected in payroll and benefit notices for the 2026-27 plan year.