DUXBURY - April 13, 2026 - The Duxbury Selectboard approved a 12% increase for town health insurance plans on Monday, navigating a “healthcare crisis” driven largely by the skyrocketing costs of GLP-1 weight-loss medications. While the board also authorized a citizen-funded study to explore wood restoration for the iconic Powder Point Bridge, the financial strain of insurance costs dominated the session, with officials warning of the “crushing” impact on the town’s razor-thin budget. The move comes as Blue Cross Blue Shield prepares to strip weight-loss medications from its formulary this July, a decision that town leaders hope will eventually stabilize the municipal trust fund.
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The primary challenge facing Duxbury’s FY27 budget is a double-digit rise in health insurance premiums, a trend described as “systemic pressure” across the Commonwealth. Danielle Chaplick of the Hilb Group presented a sobering outlook, noting that while Duxbury’s five-year average increase of 4.9% has historically outperformed peers like the GIC or Mayflower Municipal Health Group, the current year presents an anomaly. [01:56:08]
