Milwaukee County Fires Employee After Health Insurance Lapse

County Executive says transparency and accountability are priorities after contract oversight.

Feb. 2, 2026 at 10:31am

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Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced that the employee responsible for allowing the county's health insurance contract with UnitedHealthcare to lapse on December 31st no longer works for the county. The lapse in coverage affected benefits and prescriptions for over 3,000 county employees and retirees.

Why it matters

The lapse in health insurance coverage for Milwaukee County employees and retirees is a significant issue that could have major financial and medical implications for those affected. The county's commitment to transparency and accountability in addressing the mistake is important for maintaining public trust.

The details

The employee who let the county's health insurance contract with UnitedHealthcare expire was fired by Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. The county is still operating under the old contract's terms but with little legal protection. The finance committee is holding an emergency meeting to decide whether to approve a new five-year contract.

  • The county's health insurance contract with UnitedHealthcare lapsed on December 31, 2025.
  • The finance committee is holding an emergency meeting on Monday, February 3, 2026 to decide on a new contract.

The players

David Crowley

The Milwaukee County Executive who announced the firing of the employee responsible for the lapsed health insurance contract.

Milwaukee County Corporation Counsel

The county's legal counsel who stated that Milwaukee County is still operating under the old contract's terms, but with little legal protection.

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What they’re saying

“I strongly believe in transparency and accountability. When mistakes are made, it's important to seek out the facts and identify solutions to the problem at hand. This was an error by an employee in the Department of Human Resources, and as a result, that employee no longer works for Milwaukee County.”

— David Crowley, Milwaukee County Executive

What’s next

The finance committee is holding an emergency meeting on Monday, February 3, 2026 to decide whether to approve a suggested five-year contract to renew the county's health insurance coverage.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of proper oversight and accountability in managing critical government contracts and services. The county's commitment to transparency in addressing the mistake is a positive step, but the lapse in coverage could have significant impacts on employees and retirees that need to be swiftly resolved.