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Pine County board approves health insurance committee recommendations, defers rate decision
Summary
The board approved the county-retained Blue Cross pharmacy rebate program, enrollment in the state paid family medical leave plan, renewal of life/disability contracts and ending the voluntary short-term disability plan; commissioners deferred setting the 2026 insurance rate pending budget review.
The county's health insurance committee reported recommendations the board considered for employee benefits for 2026. Committee members recommended holding the insurance rate steady for now and approved a Blue Cross Blue Shield county-retained pharmacy rebate program, enrollment in the state paid family medical leave plan, renewal of life and disability contracts with Minnesota Life and Madison National, and ending the voluntary short‑term disability plan.
Human Resources Manager Jackie Coifisto explained ending the short-term disability plan was recommended because it often conflicts with state paid family leave and in many employees' cases would not provide additional payment. "It's been common practice with counties... they're just dropping the short term disability plan because it just doesn't make any financial sense to have it," Coifisto said. Staff provided budget estimates: a 1% reduction in the insurance rate would save the county about $37,300 and save employees roughly $6,500; a 2.68% reduction would equate to about $100,000 in county savings.
The board voted (voice) to approve the committee's non-rate items and to defer a final decision on the overall insurance rate until budget figures are available prior to the October 1 planning timeframe.
