The Hooksett Town Council voted to approve the town’s HealthTrust medical and dental benefit rates for calendar year 2026 and to add a second retiree plan option for early retirees.

Debbie Clayton, HealthTrust benefits coordinator, told the council HealthTrust set a January renewal group average medical rate change of 11.3% and that the town’s combined medical rate change is 14.5% for the coming plan year; dental rates increased 4.4%. Clayton explained the rate-setting process: actuaries estimate trend, and HealthTrust has added a 5.3% capital risk charge to help rebuild reserves drawn down during recent high-claims years.

Clayton said HealthTrust’s board has acted to remain a non-assessable risk pool; members will not be billed retroactively for past claims beyond future prospective rate adjustments.

After questions from councilors about the components of the renewal and the relative rate increases for particular plan products, Councilor Sullivan moved to continue the current health and dental options for active employees for CY2026 and to maintain retiree plans with the change to Medicare Advantage for retirees age 65 and older. The motion carried on a roll-call vote.

Councilor LaPierre then moved to add the open access PPO retiree plan (a nationwide-network, co-pay-based plan) as an option for early retirees who permanently move outside New England; the council approved that motion by roll call. Councilors clarified the town would not subsidize the new retiree option; the retiree would pay 100% of the premium if they chose the PPO instead of the high-deductible Luminos option. Staff noted the open access PPO is available only to a limited eligibility set (early retirees moving out-of-region) to minimize any material impact on the town’s claims experience.

Councilors asked staff to provide more details about the fiscal impact of the renewal on the town budget at the next meeting.