Title
Human Resources Department recommending the Board take the following actions regarding Health Plan Programs and Ancillary Employee Benefit Programs for the 2026 Plan Year:
1) Approve the proposed 2026 Retiree and COBRA (which includes countywide Employee Assistance Program rates) health plan rate cards (Attachment A) based on the cost sharing of health premiums in the current Memoranda of Understanding with all bargaining units, the Salary and Benefits Resolution for unrepresented employees, and in accordance with Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act; and
2) Grant Human Resources the authority to correct any minor clerical errors or adjustments, if necessary, to the approved health plan rate cards for the 2026 health benefits plan year, as needed.
FUNDING: Countywide cost, shared between the County Departments (General Fund and Non-General Fund) and employees.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On August 19, 2025, with Legistar file 25-1360, the Board of Supervisors adopted the 2026 health plan rate cards for active employees, outside agencies whose benefits are administered through the County, and Operating Engineers, Local 3 (OE3)’s Health Trust plans for their members in our Trades and Crafts (TC) and Corrections (CR) bargaining units.
Medicare Retirees who are 65 or older are eligible to purchase Medicare Advantage supplement health plans through UnitedHealthcare (UHC) and Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage (KPSA); the rates for the KPSA plan were not yet available to be presented to the Board on that date. As the KPSA rates have since been received, Human Resources is returning to the Board for the adoption of the 2026 Retiree rate card.
For the 2026 plan year, the following retiree Medicare Advantage supplement plans are scheduled to renew as follows:
KPSA 9.8% Increase
UnitedHealthcare 21.0% increase
Industry-wide, Medicare Advantage supplement plans have continued to see larger rate increases the last few years both due to the genera...
Click here for full text