Insurance contribution increased

Jay County will contribute more toward employees’ health insurance plans in 2026.

Jay County Commissioners agreed during a special session Wednesday to contribute additional dollars toward employees’ Health Savings Accounts and pay for employees’ premiums in November and December next year. They also approved the county’s insurance plan for 2026.

Plans are to pay an additional $25 per quarter toward Health Savings Accounts for individual plans and $50 per quarter toward Health Savings Accounts for plans with spouses or dependents.

The county’s premium through Physicians Health Plan for 2026 increased by 5%, about $77,000.  Next year’s annual contribution for the county — that includes portions allocated for Health Savings Accounts, Health Reimbursement Arrangements and other fees — came in at just under $1.7 million.

County auditor Emily Franks pointed out that the county has an $80,000 credit with next year’s plan, which offsets the increase. It also received an $80,000 credit last year.

Using that extra money, she suggested putting more funds toward employees’ Health Savings Accounts next year, reducing premiums or doing both options. 

She pointed to $100 and $200 increases in Health Reimbursement Arrangements next year. To cover that increase, she continued, the county could pay an estimated $22,700 toward Health Savings Accounts. (Those figures are based on the number of employees on the plan currently.)

Commissioners president Chad Aker noted there are currently 100 employees with Health Savings Accounts and 20 employees without them. He spoke in favor of the decision. Commissioner Doug Horn noted the employees without Health Savings Accounts wouldn’t see a benefit from an increased contribution.

If the county were to reduce employees’ premiums by about 5%, Franks explained, that would cost about $6,000. She suggested offering the increased contributions to Health Savings Accounts and slightly reducing premiums.

Commissioner Duane Monroe pointed to conversations he’s had with county employees and other individuals. If the county doesn’t receive an $80,000 credit for 2027, he added, it may not be able to continue offering a 5% decrease in premiums.

“Then, all of a sudden, it’s going to from nothing to a whole bunch if it’s not there, and honestly, I feel like if your insurance (doesn’t) go up, in my opinion, (it) is a win,” he said.