Today, the Group Insurance Board reviewed a comparative analysis of Group Health Insurance Program (GHIP) plan designs. The Board also approved premium increases for the Wisconsin Public Employers (WPE) Group Life Insurance Program.
ETF conducted a comparative analysis of GHIP’s non-Medicare plan designs against both the public and private sectors, as well as the health insurance marketplace.
The analysis found that the GHIP offers lower member cost share and greater coverage. At the same time, the lower cost sharing may hide rising medical and pharmacy costs, which may contribute to increased financial pressure on the program and higher premiums overall.
ETF is exploring ways to:
- Enhance plan designs to better support management of chronic conditions, improve health outcomes, and contribute to long-term cost sustainability
- Align cost sharing with service value and guide members toward lower-cost, clinically appropriate settings to reduce unnecessary spending
- Ensure access for all member populations without barriers in rural or underserved areas
- Maintain benefit designs that support recruitment and retention in a competitive labor market
- Simplify complexities to reduce administrative burden, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the member experience
In November, ETF will continue discussions of plan design changes, with more specific recommendations and a benchmarking analysis. The Board will approve any changes for the 2027 plan year next February.
Life Insurance Program
Based on the WPE Group Life Insurance Program’s recent financial experience, the Board approved the following premium increases as recommended by Securian’s actuaries.
- A 5% premium increase for the State plan, effective April 1, 2026. This premium increase is a part of the Board’s long-term strategy to return the program to fully funded status by 2028.
- A $0.35 premium increase, from a $1.60 to $1.95, for each unit of spouse and dependent coverage in the Local plan. This premium increase is effective July 1, 2026.
Premiums for State spouse and dependent coverage and Local employee coverage will stay the same.
Other Business
ETF provided the following updates to the Board.
- Local GHIP Initiative – ETF shared potential options for changing the structure of the Local GHIP to better control costs. Next steps include asking for the Board’s approval to issue a request for proposal for administering the Access Plan and State Maintenance Plan and collecting feedback from local employers and members.
- Pre-tax Savings Accounts – The transition from Optum Financial to Total Administrative Services Corporation (TASC) for the administration of pre-tax savings accounts is on track. Steps include notifications to participants, account transfers to TASC, and system setup in time for open enrollment.
- Quality Credit Program – Overall, health plans have performed well compared to national benchmarks. However, only a few plans have sustained improvements across performance measures. ETF will examine alternative approaches to driving measurable improvements in quality.
The Insurance Administration System, called My Insurance Benefits, successfully launched in July for employees of the Universities of Wisconsin. ETF expects to launch the system to all state and local members, employers, and retirees next summer.
My Insurance Benefits provides employees secure online access to their insurance information, such as health, dental, vision, accident, income continuation, and life insurance, as well as pre-tax savings accounts.
The Board’s next meeting is November 12, 2025.