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Woodford County keeps employee cost-sharing as Gallagher broker secures 9% medical renewal
Summary
After a Gallagher broker outlined renewal options and a challenging claims picture, the Woodford County Fiscal Court voted unanimously to preserve its current premium cost-sharing (option one), absorbing about a 9% overall increase for the plan year beginning July 1, 2026.
Darren Smith of Gallagher told the Woodford County Fiscal Court Committee of the Whole that UnitedHealthcare offered a 9% renewal for the county’s medical plans after an initial 15% quote and that county claims — including a dozen high-cost claimants — made single-digit renewals unlikely this year.
Smith, the county’s broker, said Woodford’s medical trend was running about 11% and that the firm’s data analytics had forecast top claimants could generate $1.8 million in claims over the next 12 months. He reviewed the county’s current plan designs (two PPO options and one high-deductible HSA option) and highlighted a notably generous HSA employer contribution: $1,800 a year for single coverage and approximately $3,500 for family accounts.
Smith outlined four ways to address the renewal: mirror the current percentage employer/employee contributions (option one); shift dependent coverage costs onto employees (employees pick up 25% of dependent premiums); equalize employer dollar contributions across plans (raising employee share); or split a portion of the $191,000 increase to employees. He recommended option one as the least burdensome to employees while preserving the HSA benefit.
Several magistrates questioned wellness benefits and confirmed the practical effect of option one. Squire Carl moved to adopt option one — keeping the current percentage cost-share structure — and the court approved the motion by voice vote with all members saying “I.”
The judge said the approved 9% renewal is included in the budget assumptions and noted the healthcare line item was set at 20% in the draft budget to absorb the anticipated increase.
The court set the county’s open enrollment for June 4 at the Woodford Theater to walk employees through the new rates and plan options.
