Richland County accepts 7.7% insurance rate increase; commissioners authorize premium adjustments

The Richland County Board of Commissioners accepted a health-insurance renewal rate increase for 2026 during its Sept. 4 meeting, and authorized moving forward with premium adjustments in accordance with collective bargaining agreements.

Rachel Troyer, who joined the meeting to present the renewal, told commissioners that county rates under the Zebco 2026 renewal will increase 7.7% for the coming year. "It's not as bad as '23 to '24," Troyer said, and added the county's estimated additional cost is "about $390,000," with next year's health-insurance premiums for the general fund projected to be close to $5,500,000. County staff said they planned a total budget increase of $817,000 to cover general and non-general funds.

Commissioners and staff discussed drivers of the increase. Troyer and others said recent prescription usage of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) class medications — drugs used for diabetes and increasingly prescribed for weight management — raised costs across counties and groups. Troyer said some GLP-1 products were removed from covered benefits for non-diabetic uses, which reduced but did not eliminate the cost pressure.

The board voted to accept the Zebco renewal and to authorize implementing the premium increases "in accordance with collective bargaining agreements, the same manner as in the past," language placed on the record by county staff. The motions were approved by the commissioners present.

Commissioners noted the increase's budgetary impact and said township and village partners were notified because their budgets were also affected. No changes to plan design or participant eligibility beyond the coverage limitations discussed were approved at the meeting; staff indicated details on exact dollar amounts and participant counts will be provided as budgets are finalized.