Board of Supervisors Tues Mtg 07-28-26 · Presentation by Alliant · 2027 Medical Renewal

The County of Lake Board of Supervisors held a meeting on July 28, 2026, to discuss the 2027 medical insurance renewal presented by their broker Alliant and human resources staff. The presentation highlighted a significant rate increase of 18.9% for health insurance and 11.5% for dental coverage, driven by high utilization of health services, especially costly weight loss medications (GLP-1s), inflation, and fewer dependents enrolled. The county participates in the Prism Health purchasing pool with other counties and agencies, which provides some economies of scale. Despite efforts to seek competitive bids from other insurers, no better rates were found. The board discussed strategies to manage costs, including cutting coverage for weight loss medications, promoting telehealth, and encouraging use of cost-saving programs like RX and Go and Accolade. Concerns were raised about the impact of rising costs on employee retention and recruitment, especially for families, and the sustainability of the current insurance model. The board acknowledged the need for further internal and external discussions on healthcare funding and cost containment, with open enrollment and employee education planned as immediate next steps. No specific contract awards or budget allocations were made during this meeting, but the discussion focused heavily on procurement-related issues around health insurance coverage and cost management.