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Commissioners approve health plan change as county share, premiums shift
Summary
Washington County commissioners approved a recommended insurance option after staff presented five plans and said health costs will rise 14.5%. The adopted Option 3 reduces the county's employer contribution by 10% while keeping the deductible unchanged, increasing employee costs.
Washington County commissioners voted to adopt a new employee health insurance arrangement after staff presented five plan options and cost projections.
Zack Richards of Knapp Miller Brown summarized the choices and said, "the health insurance will see a 14.5% increase." Commissioners were told the county currently contributes 95% for the $3,200-deductible plan and 85% for a $1,000-deductible plan. Richards offered three options that would raise deductibles and two that would lower employer contributions.
Commissioner Todd Ewen recommended Option 3, which the board was told would decrease the employer contribution by about 10% while keeping the current deductible level; the county said the employee share would increase significantly under that option. Ewen moved to adopt Option 3; the motion was seconded and carried.
The board did not specify a phased implementation schedule in the minutes. The change follows broader budget pressures described elsewhere in the county's multi-day 2026 budget hearings.
