HomeMy WebLinkAbout13.F.1. 2011 Employee Medical and Dental Insurance-Res. No.7056 13.
City of Shakopee
Memorandum
TO: Mayor and City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
FROM: Kris Wilson, Assistant City Administrator
SUBJECT: 2011 Employee Medical and Dental Insurance
DATE: October 14, 2010
Introduction
The City Council is asked to consider two options for employee's 2011 health insurance, a
renewal option for 2011 dental insurance and to adopt the City's contribution rates for 2011.
Background
Medical Insurance
State law requires public sector employers to seek competitive bids on their employee insurance
benefits at least once every five years. Last year we sought bids on our dental, life and long -term
disability benefits. This year it was time to seek bids on our health insurance.
The City's insurance broker -- Financial Concepts Inc. (FCI) — simultaneously sought a renewal
offer from Medica, our current insurance carrier, and put the group business out for bid. There
are essentially four insurance companies that operate in Minnesota and serve employers such as
us (Medica, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Health Partners and Preferred One), as well as a few
consortiums that involve local government employers. All were contacted, but only one was
interested in our business and submitted a bid and that was Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS).
Option #1: Blue Cross Blue Shield
BCBS offered us the same two plans that we currently have, however they are only willing to
offer us one provider network. With Medica we currently have two provider networks — the
Elect network which is smaller, less expensive and ties each enrollee to a specific primary -care
physician and the Choice network which is larger, more expensive and open- access. Currently
the City bases its contribution rates off of the price of the Elect network and employees who
want access to the larger Choice network pay the increased cost of that network themselves. If
we switch to BCBS, everyone would have access to the larger open - access network but the City
would end up paying for that rather than having the employees that want the larger network pay
the incremental cost.
On paper, the BCBS offer reflects a 9.4% increase over our current rates compared to an average
of 11.1% if we stay with Medica, but because of the provider network issue described above, a
move to BCBS would result in the City and 46 employees who currently opt for the smaller
network paying more than with Medica, while 40 employees who currently pay nothing continue
to pay nothing and another 41 employees see a cost savings. The added cost to the City of
selecting the BCBS offer over Medica would be approximately $15,600 for calendar year 2011.
This would, however, save a group of 40 employees a collective $26,400. See aggregate total on
attachments. (As a point of reference, we have 127 employees on the City's insurance plan.)
Additionally, a move to BCBS would result in some employees finding their current doctors to
be out of network and their current prescriptions to be non - formulary, resulting in a higher cost
to the employee.
Option #2: Medica Renewal
The original renewal offer from Medica was a 14% increase in premiums combined with an
increase in deductibles, out of pocket maximums, co -pays and co- insurance. However, after
receiving the proposal from Blue Cross Blue Shield, FCI was able to negotiate them down to an
offer of a 12.8% increase on our Traditional Co -Pay Plan and 10.6% increase on our High -
Deductible Plan for the same benefit levels we currently have. So while the City and employees
will both pay more in monthly premiums, there won't be an increase in deductibles, co -pays, etc.
Additionally, Medica has provided us with a rate cap of 13% for 2012, whereas Blue Cross is
only able to offer us a 16% rate cap. As a result, staying with Medica is likely to cost our group
less over the course of two years than switching to BCBS.
Health Insurance Recommendation:
An employee insurance committee was formed to study the options available to the City and
provide input on the final recommendations. Some individual members of the committee
expressed a preference for one option over the other, but as a group there was no clear consensus
as to a preference.
Since then, however, a group of employees who would be most directly benefitted by a switch to
Blue Cross have asked that the Council consider the advantages as they see them, of making a
switch in carriers. Those employees feel that in view of the relatively modest cost of living
adjustment , the health insurance carrier that would provide more of an overall savings to
individual employees should be favorably considered.
Both options have their pros and cons making it a close decision, however, based on all of the
information collected, the advice of our insurance broker and the likely long -term outcomes of
the two options, the City Administrator and I are recommending that the City accept the renewal
offer from Medica for 2011.
Dental Insurance
The City has received a renewal offer from Delta Dental that provides the same coverage that we
currently have for a 3.5% increase in monthly premiums. The City sought bids on dental
insurance last year, but did not do so this year.
City Contribution Levels
For many years, the City has paid 100 percent of the monthly premium for employees selecting
single medical coverage, 88 percent for 2 -party coverage and 72.5 percent for family coverage.
For dental insurance, the City has traditionally paid 100 percent of the monthly premium for
employees selecting single coverage and contributed an equal dollar amount toward the cost of
2 -Party and Family coverage. Staff is recommending that the Council approve the same level of
City contributions for both medical and dental insurance in 2011. (Please see the attached table
for the dollar amounts associated with these percentages.)
Lastly, there is the issue of the City's contribution to Health Savings Accounts (HSA) for those
employees selecting the high - deductible medical plan. Under this plan, the out -of- pocket
deductible that must be met before the insurance company pays any charges is $1500 for single
coverage and $3000 for 2 -party and family coverage. Since 2009, the City has made a lump sum
contribution equal to 50% of the deductible ($750 for single and $1500 for 2- Party /Family) at the
beginning of the year. Staff recommends that the Council approve the same contribution level
for 2011.
Budget Impact
Until we have conducted Open Enrollment and know which plan options and coverage levels
(single, 2 -party or family) each employee has selected, it is impossible to determine the exact
cost of the City's contributions for medical insurance. However, we budgeted for a slightly
larger increase in medical insurance than what Medica is offering us, so I am confident the
preliminary budget for 2011 will accommodate these costs as well as the small increase in dental
insurance rates.
Recommendation
It is staff's recommendation that the Council take the following actions related to group medical
and dental insurance for 2011:
1. Authorize the appropriate officials to enter into a contract with Medica for
continuation of the City's current health insurance plans, at the quoted prices for
2011.
2. Authorize the appropriate officials to enter into a contract with Delta Dental to
continue the City's existing dental offerings at the quoted prices for 2011.
3. Set the City's contributions at the levels described, by adopting Resolution #7056.
Relationship to Vision
Providing City employees with competitive medical and dental insurance helps the City attract
and retain well - qualified staff. It also allows staff to more easily meet their own medical needs
and those of their families; which allows employees to focus on their work. This contributes to
Goal E: Deliver effective and efficient public services by a staff of well- trained, caring and
professional employees.
Requested Action
If it concurs, the Council should offer a motion to authorize appropriate officials to enter into
contracts with Medica and Delta Dental for the renewal of group insurance plans for 2011, at the
quoted prices, and offer Resolution 7056, A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE CITY OF
SHAKOPEE'S CONTRIBUTION LEVELS FOR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FOR THE YEAR
2011, and move its adoption. s
UU'L f--
Kris Wilson
Assistant City Administrator
Number of
Employees With Medica
Affected Renewal Switch to BCBS
Traditional Choice Family 3 $68.13 ($110.22)
Traditional Choice 2 -Party 1 $25.64 ($78.85)
High Deducitlbe Choice Family 8 $49.39 ($72.45)
High - Deducitlbe Choice 2 -Party 6 $17.53 ($55.03)
Traditional Choice Single 7 $6.20 ($47.95)
High - Deducitble Choice Single 13 $3.56 ($35.74)
Traditional Elect Single 7 $0.00 $0.00
High- Deductilbe Elect Single 34 $0.00 $0.00
High - Deductible Elect 2 -party 16 $10.41 $16.44
Traditional Elect 2 -Party 5 $13.24 $17.05
High - Deductible Elect Family 25 $38.04 $41.49
Traditional Elect Family 2 $38.04 $42.70
RESOLUTION NO. 7056
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE'S CONTRIBUTION
LEVELS FOR EMPLOYEE INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR THE YEAR 2011
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA,
that the City's contribution toward group medical and dental insurance for qualified, full -time
employees shall be:
Single Coverage 2 -Party Coverage Family Coverage
Traditional Plan $487.34 per mo. $857.74 per mo. $1126.73 per mo.
High Deductible Plan $451.86 per mo. $795.27 per mo. $1044.68 per mo.
HSA Contribution $750.00 per year $1500.00 per year $1500.00 per year
Dental $36.95 per month $36.95 per month $36.95 per month
For individuals actively employed by the City on January 1, 2011 and subscribing to the High
Deductible Insurance Plan offered by the City, the City's Health Savings Account (HSA)
contribution shall be made in one lump sum on or about January 15, 2010. For employees hired
after January 1 as well as those that change their insurance selections mid -year due to a
qualifying event, the City contribution shall be pro -rated by month and deposited at the time the
employee becomes eligible for insurance or upon the effective date of the change.
The City's contribution for eligible part-time employees shall be pro -rated based on the above
contribution levels and the number of hours per week worked.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all Resolutions in conflict with this resolution are
hereby repealed and terminated effective January 1, 2011.
Adopted in adjourned regular session of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota, held this 19
day of October, 2010.
Mayor of the City of Shakopee
ATTEST:
City Clerk