Commissioners approve new health-insurance contribution levels, HR director proposes annual wellness visit

Washington County Commissioners Court on June 23 approved revised employer contribution levels for the county’s health plan for plan year 2026–27 after the county’s HR director described a 12% overall rate increase and proposed a tied wellness requirement for future savings.

Kala, the county HR director, told the court the renewal packet showed a 12% rate increase and that the broader market is seeing 20%–35% increases. "Our plan overall did see a 12% rate increase," Kala said, and she recommended shifting contribution shares across tiers so the county and employees maintain a sustainable program.

Kala outlined the immediate changes presented to the court: employee-only coverage would rise by $4.82 per month, employee–child coverage by $21 per month, employee–spouse coverage by $143.70 per month and employee family coverage by $187.69 per month, as reflected in the renewal materials. She also summarized proposed retiree contribution changes and said the county would cover between roughly 53% and 75% of retiree premiums depending on tier.

In addition to the contribution changes, Kala proposed adding an annual wellness visit requirement for employees and retirees so the county can pursue future cost savings by encouraging preventive care. "What I'm asking is that we do adopt an annual wellness visit for our employees to encourage a healthier lifestyle," she said, describing the requirement as part of the plan design rather than the employee handbook.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about whether the wellness step would appear in policy or the handbook and whether it must be included in the motion. Kala said the wellness requirement would be included in the benefits plan materials and that the motion before the court was to adopt the contribution amounts recommended by her office. On a motion and second, the court approved the contribution amounts as recommended by Kala; the vote was taken by voice and no roll-call tally was recorded.

The approval covers contribution levels effective with the October 1, 2026 renewal for plan year 2026–27. Kala told the court the county absorbed the previous year’s increase and that the three-year claims history and market dynamics drive the current renewal. The county did not provide a detailed timeline for implementing the wellness visit or how savings would be shared beyond the statement that savings would be passed to employees in future plan years.