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Council keeps full employee health plan despite debate over GLP-1 coverage; 6-1 vote
Summary
After heated discussion about rising premiums tied to GLP-1 medications, Council rejected a compromise that would have limited coverage and instead approved maintaining current benefits with a projected 10% insurance increase. The compromise (7.6% increase, restricted GLP-1 coverage) failed 1-6.
Thomasville City Council rejected a staff-and-insurer proposal that would have limited city-paid coverage for GLP-1 medications and accepted maintaining the existing health plan, which will increase projected costs by about 10% in FY2027.
City Manager Brandt and representatives from Gallagher Group briefed council members that projected premium increases—the result of higher costs for GLP-1 drugs—had driven consideration of alternatives. Gallagher offered an option with a 7.6% premium increase that the city manager said would save roughly $60,000 compared with maintaining full coverage. That option would restrict full GLP-1 coverage to cases prescribed for diabetes or other medical conditions; employees using GLP-1 drugs solely for weight loss would face a city cap of $300 per month with higher out-of-pocket responsibility or could switch to oral forms with lower personal cost.
Council Member JacQuez Johnson moved to adopt the 7.6% option (the RX SafeCard plan). The motion was seconded but failed on a 1-6 vote. Mayor Pro Tem Hunter Thrift then moved to maintain the current plan—effectively accepting a 10% premium increase—and the motion passed 6-1.
Council Member Lisa Shell described her personal experience with GLP-1 medication, saying it "allowed her to stop taking asthma and blood pressure medications by helping her control her weight," and warned against removing access for employees who benefit. Council Member Payton Williams argued against changing employee healthcare, citing the importance of benefits for city workers.
Council Member JacQuez Johnson said he opposed the higher-cost option because he believed the benefit primarily helped about 15 employees and represented roughly $60,000 in taxpayer expense.
What happens next: The city's health-plan renewal will proceed under the current coverage terms discussed at the retreat, and staff will work with Gallagher and NCCHIP to finalize plan documents for FY2027.
