New Albany moves to withdraw from Central Ohio Healthcare Consortium after projected premium spikes

New Albany City Council voted on Sept. 2 to authorize the city manager to provide written notice of the city’s intention to withdraw from the Central Ohio Healthcare Consortium (COHCC) for 2026 amid projections of large premium increases.

City staff said preliminary numbers presented to the COHCC indicated the city would face a 16–18% increase in health insurance premiums for 2026 and that the COHCC’s overall increase could be 18–21%. Staff said eight of the 11 entities in the consortium were underperforming on claims, with some entities showing claim experience well above expected levels.

The administration said broker proposals received by the city (through HUBB) could provide lower cost options for medical, prescription and stop‑loss coverage and that withdrawing would include run‑out of existing claims rather than blanket penalties. Staff recommended a transition to a self‑insured arrangement with stop‑loss coverage and to work with the city’s broker to preserve as much continuity in administration as possible.

Council discussed transition timing, employee impacts and potential run‑out liabilities; staff said the city has engaged broker proposals that would maintain the same third‑party administrator where feasible and that withdrawal timing and run‑out obligations had been assessed. Council voted to adopt the resolution authorizing the city manager to proceed.

Staff said further legislation would appear on Oct. 7 to implement details of the new coverage approach, and that they would work to minimize operational disruption for employees.