1/9/2026 - Leelanau County | Health Insurance Special Session Minutes

Summary

The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held a special session on January 9, 2026, focusing on the county's health insurance plan and potential budget for 2026. The primary outcome was a recommendation from Administrator Dyer to renew the current health insurance plan with BHS Insurance and to consider future options for a fully insured plan. Public comments were limited, and there was an emphasis on ensuring that any future insurance options are put through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process for transparency.

Public Comments

Joe Hubbell was the sole speaker during the public comment session. Specific concerns were not detailed in the minutes.

Infrastructure Projects

(There was no discussion on infrastructure projects in the meeting documentation.)

Other Business

The meeting included a review of the county’s health insurance, with presentations from AJG Insurance and BHS Insurance. Key discussions revolved around the rising costs of the current health insurance plan and the proposal for a budget of $2.6 million for 2026. Discussions also touched upon the need for better management and accurate projections concerning claims reserves.

Financial Summary (if applicable)

The meeting addressed significant financial figures related to health insurance: - Initial budget recommendation for healthcare was set at $1.9 million. - Revised recommendation increased this amount to $2.6 million for 2026 due to unsustainable projected costs. - Discussion included a substantial projected increase in stop loss premiums, affecting the overall budget.

Action Items

- Administrator Dyer is tasked with preparing an Executive Document Summary (EDS) for the Board’s consideration in the upcoming meeting on January 13, 2026. - A suggestion to initiate an RFP process for insurance options was proposed for next year to encourage vendor participation and transparency.