TITLE
Title
APPROVE CALENDAR YEAR 2026 OPEN ENROLLMENT BENEFITS CONTRACTS AND PREMIUM RATES
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Jaime Joyner (Mirna Simaan)
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BACKGROUND
Background
Guilford County provides a comprehensive and competitive benefits package as part of our total rewards. Staff propose to continue our existing benefits options. Most employer and employee contribution rates remain the same, with slight changes in cost for contracts that were bid for renewals.
The Unum voluntary benefits include supplemental benefits that, if elected, will have rates that vary based on age and income. The County’s cost for these benefits is estimated to remain approximately the same for calendar year 2026.
The County partners with Mark III for benefits brokerage and consulting services. Based on this partnership, these renewals represent an overall positive fiscal impact on the County’s overall plan. Cost impacts are outlined below:
No change in life insurance premium
No change to the per member per month cost for medical plan administrative services
Savings to Medicare Advantage Plan totaling $350,000 and lower per month premium contributions for retirees.
Maintains stop loss coverage at $425,000, which protects the county’s financial resources by offsetting risk associated with high claims, at an estimated additional cost of $160,000.
Maintains the dental coverage provider with a slight increase in administrative costs of $11,000.
Maintains the vision coverage provider with a slight decrease in the per month premium paid by employees.
These estimates are in line with budget estimates included in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and no associated budget amendments are anticipated. Final costs will vary based on final enrollment numbers through the open enrollment process.
There will be no change to employee premiums for active employees and pre-65 retirees. Additionally post-65 retirees (Medicare-eligible) will see a slight decrease in the monthly premium. As hea...
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