Milwaukee Supervisor Calls for Health Insurance Reform After Lapse

Deanna Alexander seeks major changes to county systems and processes following issues with UnitedHealthcare contract

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Milwaukee County Supervisor Deanna Alexander is calling for structural reforms to the county's health insurance administration after a lapse in the contract with UnitedHealthcare left employees and their dependents uncertain about their coverage. Alexander is leading an investigation into the county's procurement and contracting procedures to review gaps identified in the process, with a focus on accountability and strengthening systems to prevent similar issues in the future.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of proper oversight and accountability in the management of essential public services like employee health coverage. Breakdowns in these systems can have real impacts on workers and their families, as well as potential financial risks for the county and taxpayers.

The details

According to reports, the lapse in Milwaukee County's health insurance administration contract with UnitedHealthcare left employees and their dependents uncertain about their coverage. Supervisor Alexander is calling for structural reforms, stating that 'true accountability means not only responding to the immediate crisis but understanding how the failure occurred and why safeguards did not prevent it.' She is leading an investigation into the county's procurement and contracting procedures to review gaps identified in the process, with the goal of preventing similar issues in the future and protecting employees and public funds.

  • The lapse in Milwaukee County's health insurance contract with UnitedHealthcare occurred in early 2026.

The players

Deanna Alexander

A Milwaukee County Supervisor who is calling for reforms to the county's health insurance administration after issues with the UnitedHealthcare contract.

UnitedHealthcare

The health insurance company that had a contract with Milwaukee County to provide coverage, which experienced a lapse in the contract.

Milwaukee County

The local government entity responsible for managing the health insurance coverage for its employees and their dependents.

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What they’re saying

“The County is now navigating a difficult set of choices, balancing fiduciary responsibility, legal considerations, operational continuity, and our duty of care to employees.”

— Deanna Alexander, Milwaukee County Supervisor (Milwaukee County)

“True accountability means not only responding to the immediate crisis but understanding how the failure occurred and why safeguards did not prevent it.”

— Deanna Alexander, Milwaukee County Supervisor (Milwaukee County)

“Public service requires accountability and discipline, especially when systems as essential as employee health coverage fail.”

— Deanna Alexander, Milwaukee County Supervisor (Milwaukee County)

What’s next

Supervisor Alexander is leading an investigation into Milwaukee County's procurement and contracting procedures to identify gaps and strengthen systems to prevent similar issues in the future.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for robust oversight and accountability measures in the management of essential public services like employee health coverage. Breakdowns in these systems can have real impacts on workers and their families, as well as potential financial risks for the county and taxpayers, underscoring the importance of proactive reforms to prevent such issues from occurring again.