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Kane County board votes 10–8 to remove GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs from employee insurance, citing large cost increase
Summary
After a two‑hour debate, the Kane County Board approved Resolution 26‑337 to remove GLP‑1 drugs used for weight loss (Wegovy) from the county employee medical plan. County benefits staff said GLP‑1 claims totaled roughly $233,000 last month and would add about $2.8–$3.0 million annually to the plan, raising premiums for all employees; supporters of coverage warned of health impacts for workers.
The Kane County Board voted 10–8 to approve Resolution 26‑337, asking human resources to implement cost‑reducing changes that will exclude coverage of GLP‑1 medications for weight‑loss (for example Wegovy) from the county’s employee medical plan.
Jamie Liberillo (speaker 25), the county benefits lead present for the discussion, told the board the health‑plan pharmacy bill showed $233,000 in GLP‑1 claims in the most recent month for roughly 221 claims — a mix of employees and dependents — and that trend would project to about $2.8 million annually if continued. Liberillo said the estimated effect would translate to roughly a $50 per‑employee per‑month premium increase for all participants if the county continued to cover the drugs.
Committee chair (speaker 11), who brought the resolution forward after the human services committee reviewed potential reductions, framed the item as a financial decision intended to prevent an otherwise projected multi‑million‑dollar spike in health‑plan costs. "This is a math problem," he said, urging the board to weigh affordability across the entire workforce.
Opponents — including board members and union representatives who spoke during public comment — said GLP‑1 medications treat a chronic disease and that removing coverage risks harming employees who have achieved measurable health benefits. Phil Nurey, representing Teamsters Local 330, urged the board to reject any measure that would eliminate GLP‑1 coverage for employees currently responding to treatment.
Board discussion focused on tradeoffs: whether to accept a large near‑term health‑plan cost increase that would raise premiums for all participants, or to restrict coverage and reduce the immediate fiscal pressure on the county. Liberillo said the insurer and pharmacy plan administrator did not permit the county to cover the oral form and exclude injectables; the decision before the board was binary under current plan rules: allow the medication category or not.
The vote and next steps
On a 10–8 roll call, the board approved the resolution. Sponsors said the change will be reflected in the county’s benefits materials and rate proposal the county will finalize for 2027; staff said a formal rate proposal will be presented at the August board meeting and that rates must reflect the financial impact of the coverage decision.
The county said employees on these medications for diabetes (e.g., Ozempic for diabetes) will continue to receive prescriptions under current rules; the resolution applies to GLP‑1 drugs prescribed for weight loss. Human resources and benefits staff will return with documentation for open enrollment and work with unions on transition issues.
