Milwaukee County Benefits Director Terminated After Insurance Policy Lapse
Tony Mays, the benefits director for Milwaukee County, was removed from his position Monday after the health insurance contract with United Healthcare expired. This has led to significant concerns among thousands of employees and retirees regarding their coverage, potentially exposing the county to millions in unpaid medical bills.
The situation came to light late last week when county supervisors realized the contract was due to expire on December 31, raising fears that the county could be responsible for much higher healthcare costs. During an emergency meeting on Monday morning, officials discussed the implications of the contract lapse and the potential inability to process claims without it.
“If UHC were to withdraw from the county, we would not have any capacity to process these claims,” stated Deputy Corporation Counsel William Davidson. “People won’t have a medical card to show their healthcare providers that they have insurance.” The end of the contract also means any medical services rendered would be classified as “out-of-network,” causing the county to cover the cost differences.
“Employees and their families have been uncertain about their insurance status and were even thinking about delaying necessary care,” remarked Margo Franklin, Milwaukee County’s Chief Human Resources Officer.
While United Healthcare is still meeting its obligations under the expiring contract, this situation has left the board with few options but to extend it for another five years. Supervisor Kathleen Vincent expressed her frustration, saying, “I just found out about this Thursday, so I’m overwhelmed with anger right now.”
Mays did not attend the meeting, as he was terminated over the weekend, which prevented him from addressing the issue. Supervisor Justin Bielinski pointed out, “One of the frustrating aspects of my time on the board is that we’ve had several department heads resign without allowing for any questions or discussions. They simply left, and we are left in the dark.”
Milwaukee County operates on a self-insured basis, meaning it covers its healthcare costs, but relies on United Healthcare for significantly lower negotiated rates. Without a contract, the county faces the risk of absorbing costs into the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars this year alone. A final vote to renew the contract is anticipated to occur on Thursday.
County Executive David Crowley confirmed Mays’ termination through an email on Monday morning. He has not responded to any interview requests from WISN 12 News since Friday afternoon.
