Marblehead, FY2006–FY2027. From audited Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports and Finance Committee reports.
Top: health insurance spending by fiscal year (19 data points from annual budgets). Bottom: full-time equivalent employees (annual from audited financial reports). FTE counts part-time employees as fractions. Total headcount is higher (1,185 in FY25) but historical headcount data is not publicly available.
Why is this rising so fast? Hill Group consultants, reporting to Marblehead's Public Employee Committee, put Marblehead's "loss ratio" (claims paid out by the GIC on Marblehead's behalf divided by the premiums Marblehead paid in) at 114% in FY2024, rising to 119% through April of FY2025. A ratio above 100% means the town draws more in claims than it contributes, which is a major reason Marblehead's GIC rates keep climbing even as it shares a pool with dozens of other municipalities. The consultants identified GLP-1 weight-loss drugs as a notable cost driver. Source: Marblehead Independent.
Spending: "Group Insurance" from Annual Comprehensive Financial Report budget schedules (FY06–FY13) and Finance Committee reports (FY14–FY25). FY20 not available. FY26–FY27 proposed (dashed). Includes active employee health insurance, Medicare supplement, and Medicare reimbursement.
Employees: full-time equivalent from audited financial report statistical sections (FY06–FY24). FTE counts a 20 hr/wk employee as 0.5. Total headcount (1,185 in FY25 per Marblehead Independent) is higher because many employees are part-time. Historical headcount data is not publicly available.