By Joe Morey
News Editor
In a unanimous decision Monday, Feb. 3, the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board approved a resolution to create a Tribal Health Insurance Premium Support program to assist LCO tribal member employees with health insurance costs. This support will cover 100% of the tribal employee share of there health insurance premium.
The motion, introduced by Vice Chairman Tweed Shuman, directs LCO Legal and the LCO Health Center to develop the program under the Tribe’s GWE code. The program will be funded using third-party revenues from the LCO Health Center’s 2024 “All-Inclusive Rate”, benefiting all LCO tribal member employees residing within the current Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) service area.
To ensure the program remains in place for years to come, the Tribal Government will establish an endowment fund using surplus third-party dollars, including those from Contract Support Costs.
"A Big Win for Our Tribal Employees"
LCO Vice Chairman Tweed Shuman, who introduced the motion, emphasized how much this initiative will benefit tribal employees.
“This is a big win for our LCO workforce. By covering health insurance premiums, we’re allowing our employees to take home more of their paychecks and reduce financial stress on their families,” said Shuman. “Healthcare costs can be a heavy burden, but this program will ease that pressure while keeping our people covered.”
Shuman also pointed out that reinvesting the Health Center’s third-party funds into employee support programs aligns with the Tribe’s mission to strengthen the health center’s financial status and the tribes economic and social stability.
“This is exactly how we should be using these resources—giving back to the people who serve our community every day.”
Secretary/Treasurer Bill Trepanier, who seconded the motion, praised the decision for its long-term sustainability.
“Not only are we helping our employees today, but by creating an endowment, we’re securing this program for future generations,” Trepanier said. “This is smart financial planning that ensures our tribal workforce will continue to benefit from health insurance support for years to come.”
The resolution received full support from the Tribal Council, marking a major step forward in improving benefits for LCO tribal employees.