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Board votes to end county-paid dental, vision and Medicare supplement contributions for retirees 65 and older
Summary
Woodbury County supervisors approved ending county-paid dental, vision and partial Medicare-supplement benefits for former employees aged 65 and older effective Dec. 31, 2025; HR estimates roughly 50 people on the plan and annual savings near $82,000–$85,000.
The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to discontinue county-paid dental, vision and partial Medicare-supplement benefits for former employees aged 65 and older, effective Dec. 31, 2025.
Melissa Thomas of Human Resources told the board the change is part of efforts to address rising health-care costs and a long-running deficit in the county's self-funded medical plan. “The change being proposed here is to end current benefits for former employees over the age of 65 and that would be effective twelvethirty 1 of 20 25,” Thomas said, adding HR will send letters and offer COBRA for dental and vision so retirees can temporarily remain covered while they find alternative plans.
Thomas said roughly 50 people on the county's plan are over age 65 (the figure refers to dental coverage) and identified two components of savings: about $7,800 from ending the county-paid UnitedHealthcare supplement plus roughly $75,000 from eliminating broader coverage — “so closer to 82, 82, 83,000 a year,” a supervisor observed during the discussion. Board members noted the supplement had been offered at least since 2011 and emphasized the measure aligns benefits for retirees over and under 65.
Chair moved the measure to a vote after limited discussion about fund impacts; the motion passed 5–0. The board did not adopt any phase-in or offset funding beyond offering COBRA for dental and vision.
The board recorded the action as a formal direction to HR; no additional staff report or external approvals were required. The county will notify affected retirees in writing as described by HR.
