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Codington County board selects Dakotacare Option 6 after multi‑stakeholder review; unit votes follow
Summary
After meetings with department heads, union stewards and multiple insurers, the board voted in December to adopt Dakotacare Option 6 for non‑union staff and permitted bargaining units to opt in or retain alternate coverage; final selections required unit ratification and contract discussions.
Following a series of multi-stakeholder meetings in December, Codington County’s Board of Commissioners voted to adopt Dakotacare Option 6 as the county’s baseline health plan and to allow bargaining units to decide whether to join that plan. The decision followed presentations from insurers and a review by an internal committee of department heads and union stewards.
The board’s motion set employer/employee premium splits and directed county negotiators to consult the county’s union units about the choice. Some bargaining units subsequently voted to accept the Dakotacare Option 6 plan; others continued discussions and asked for follow-up meetings to address deductibles and out-of-network coverage.
Why it matters: County-backed health coverage affects employee take-home pay, total employer personnel costs, and collective bargaining. The board recorded the choice formally and instructed county negotiators to confirm unit decisions and implement the insurance transition.
What happens next: Human Resources and the Auditor will work with the insurer and union stewards on enrollment windows, payroll withholding, and plan transition dates. Bargaining-unit ratifications and any required contract amendments will be handled in follow-up negotiations.
