Boulder County Commissioners · Study session
Public Meeting on Benefits Advisory Board Benefits Workshop for 2027
August 27, 2026
Commissioners approve three BAB benefit changes and delay two cost decisions pending more data.
The Board of County Commissioners held a workshop on the 2027 employee benefits plan. Kelly Schultz presented for the Benefits Advisory Board (BAB). Consultants from MJ Companies presented cost data and two competing plan design options. Commissioner Levy was excused. Commissioners Stolzmann and Loachamin approved BAB recommendations to add Marathon Health clinics, end the MindCo program, and leave the out-of-network rule unchanged. They deferred the deductible increase and the premium cost-share shift, and asked staff for a fourth option that keeps 2026 cost levels.
Agenda and votes
Call to Order
1:00 p.m. Afternoon Session
- 2.aPublic Meeting on Benefits Advisory Board Benefits Workshop for 2027The BAB and MJ Companies presented the 2027 benefits plan. The commissioners approved Marathon Health clinics, MindCo termination, and no change to the out-of-network rule. They deferred the deductible increase and the premium cost-share shift for more analysis.passed 16-3 unofficialat 0:29:24BAB members voted to add Marathon Health near-site primary care clinics for the 2027 plan year.passed 12-10 unofficialat 0:32:22BAB members voted between the BAB plan design option and the larger MJ-recommended out-of-pocket maximum increase; the BAB option won.passed 2-0, 1 absent unofficialat 1:41:09Commissioners directed staff to adopt the BAB recommendations on Marathon Health, MindCo termination, and the out-of-network cross-accumulation rule, and to bring the medical plan design and premium cost-share decisions back at a future meeting.Moved by Ashley StolzmannStolzmann: yesLoachamin: yesLevy: absent
Conversations by topic
County Employee Benefits
MJ consultant Jamie Westbury described Marathon Health as a near-site primary care clinic network with 14 locations and $0 copay visits, labs, and generic drugs. The BAB voted 16-3 to add it for 2027. Commissioner Loachamin asked about the $2.3 million savings figure and about Spanish-language and cultural competency access; staff confirmed Spanish-speaking providers exist in person and by video.
MJ presented two options for raising deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums on both medical plans: the BAB-backed option and a larger MJ-backed option. Commissioner Stolzmann said the increases were significant and asked for a version with no premium increase at all. The commissioners asked OFM and MJ to model a fourth scenario that holds 2026 cost-sharing levels and shifts more cost to the county, and deferred the final decision to a later meeting.
Consultant Andrea Crone reported that the MindCo virtual reality stress and tobacco program had very low use, about 8 people per year per program, and no reported quit results since 2025. Both BAB and MJ recommended ending MindCo, which saves the county about $110,000 per year. The commissioners approved ending the program.
MJ recommended ending the cross-accumulation of out-of-network spending toward in-network deductibles on the Consumer Choice plan, which would affect 357 members. The BAB did not support this change. Commissioner Loachamin said the change would affect too many people at once, and the commissioners kept the current rule.
The BAB recommended shifting the employee share of total plan cost from 13.3% to 14.3% of the budget. Commissioner Stolzmann said this shifts more risk to employees who use more care, since the smaller total cost comes from a higher out-of-pocket maximum. This decision was deferred along with the plan design change.
Commissioner Loachamin said employees now pay $500 or more a month for GLP-1 drugs after the county dropped coverage on January 1, 2026, and asked about restoring some coverage. MJ said BAB had not discussed restoring coverage this year, but agreed to add it to the 2027 BAB agenda and noted Marathon Health may add GLP-1 dispensing at its clinics.