The Hennepin County Labor-Management Healthcare Committee has reached a tentative agreement with the Hennepin County enterprise for next year’s healthcare premiums.
The agreement includes Hennepin County paying an additional $5.284 million to account for increasing healthcare costs. Their share will total $20.4 million. To make up most of the difference, we have been asked to pay an increased premium starting next year.
The Labor-Management Healthcare Committee has already agreed to introducing a GLP-1 management plan for those taking it to lose weight, saving $3.5 million. The committee still has to identify $4.7 million worth of plan design changes.
If passed, premiums would more than double for employees seeking employee-only coverage, and increase by 1.3 times for employees seeking family coverage. Deductibles for individuals would increase from $650 to $750 for employees with employee-only coverage, and from $1300 to $1500 for employees with family coverage.
Copays will increase as well. Copays for office visits with Primary Care Providers and Specialists will increase from $20 to $40 for those who will earn the Health Incentive for next year, and to $60 for those who will not earn the Health Incentive. Coverage holders will also have to pay a $20 copay to see a mental health therapist in- or out-of-network; we currently do not pay such a copay. Emergency room visit copays would increase from $200 to $300, while hospital admission copays would increase from $500 to $575.
If the tentative agreement does not pass, we could end up paying more for our healthcare. Those not earning the Health Incentive could see their Primary Care copays double. Annual deductibles could nearly double for those with family and employee-only coverage. Urgent care copays could double. Inpatient hospital admission copays could also double. Copays for emergency room visits would more than double. Management could also unilaterally make plan design changes.
Local 34 is recommending a YES vote. Voting will occur on MemberLink between 8:00am on August 31 and 12:00pm on September 4. Voting is restricted to dues paying members only. Sign a dues authorization card on MemberLink if you wish to vote.
Learn More About The Tentative Agreement
Local 34 is hosting three town hall meetings to allow for members to ask questions about the tentative agreement. The meetings will be held over Zoom and occur on the following dates:
- 5:00pm Wednesday, August 26
- 12:00pm Monday, August 31
- 12:00pm Wednesday, September 2
If you have any questions and are unable to attend any of the town halls, reach out to President Grace Molenaar-Maldonado, Treasurer Paul Madison, or Council 5 Field Rep Dane Ryan.
Photo: Members of the Local 34 Member Action Team rally on the 18th Floor of the Hennepin County Government Center A-Tower ahead of the Labor-Management Healthcare Committee meeting on August 13, 2026. (H. Jiahong Pan for AFSCME Local 34)
