The Board of Lorain County Commissioners on Oct. 10 accepted the Chalco Consulting Group actuary report and established Lorain County Healthcare Plan premium rates effective Jan. 1, 2026, after public comment and an extended discussion about reserves, stop‑loss insurance and out‑of‑pocket costs.

Union and county employees urged the board to reduce a proposed 13% premium increase. Jacob Reed, identified as president of UAW Local 2192, asked why the county’s medical reserve was so large, where interest on the reserve goes, and whether the county can borrow against the account. Shawna Hatfield, a Lorain County Job and Family Services employee, described difficulty affording premiums and co‑payments and said coworkers have placed family members on Medicaid. Nadine Plapsich, speaking for UAW Local 2192, urged the board to cap any increase at 8% rather than 13% and said a 13% rise would threaten members’ financial security.

Why it matters: the county’s self‑funded plan covers roughly the county workforce and dependents; commissioners and plan representatives said last year’s hospitalization claims approaches $45 million for the plan, requiring a targeted reserve to ensure the county can pay large claims. The board’s action determines employee contributions, county budgeting for benefits and near‑term bargaining positions with several county unions.

In response to public comment, the actuary and commissioners explained key plan features: the county’s reserve target is set in county policy at about 25%–30% of expected claims; the county’s stop‑loss (reinsurance) attachment point is $500,000 per claim, meaning the stop‑loss carrier pays amounts above that per‑claim threshold; pharmacy rebates were included in the actuarial calculations (the presentation shows about $3.1 million in drug rebates reflected in plan financials); and a prior change that raised the copay for non‑emergency emergency room visits was intended to discourage use of ERs for non‑urgent care (the actuary cited roughly $494,000 in nonemergency ER claim dollars from a prior review). The county’s presenters emphasized that the plan is self‑funded (the county pays claims) and that the reserve functions as the plan’s operating liquidity rather than a third‑party insurer’s capital.

Commissioners said they and about 1,700 county plan participants share the same plan design and co‑pays. Commissioners said staff will continue to review plan design, pharmacy strategies and utilization management during 2026 to seek options that contain cost without cutting essential coverage. The board then voted to accept the Chalco Consulting Group Actuary Report and set rates; the motion passed with all voting members present recorded as voting yes.

The board’s vote does not finalize collective bargaining outcomes. Several speakers and one commenter, Brian Baker, asked whether the board could require employees eligible for Medicare to move to Medicare; the commissioners said they cannot force eligible employees onto Medicare. Baker also asked whether the county had included $3.1 million in rebates in its calculations; county staff said those rebates are included. Commissioners encouraged employees and union representatives to work with county administration during the 2026 plan‑review process.

The board recorded the motion as passed; commissioners voiced their support in the roll call.

Ending: County staff and the actuary said they will engage in further plan review and administrative work through 2026; commissioners said the administrative team will prioritize options to control costs while preserving coverage.