8.5. SR 11-13-2001MEMORANDUM
Item
8.5.
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor and Council
Lori Johnson, Finance Director
November 13, 2001
Consider January I, 2002, Health and Dental Insurance
Contracts for Non-Union Employees
Both the health and dental insurance contracts for non-union employees are up for renewal
on January 1, 2002. Medica currently provides health insurance for these employees and has
for the past two years. Delta Dental is the dental insurance provider. Medica has submitted
a renewal quote that calls for a 24 percent increase in premiums. The dental renewal
includes a 33 percent increase. The high cost of health insurance is an issue for all
employers as they struggle to offer good insurance coverage at the lowest cost possible. As
always, other options for health and dental insurance were explored, this time with good
results. HealthPartners submitted a very attractive proposal for both health and dental
insurance.
Under HealthPartners' proposal, employees would have the same coverage as they now have
with Medica. However, employees would have three different network options to choose
from, Classic, Primary, and Open. Each employee would choose the network that best fits
his or her needs; essentially employees would have the opportunity to buy up to a more
broad provider network while other employees could save by choosing a smaller network.
As many of you may have heard, either through radio or TV ads, HealthPartners no longer
relies just on its own HealthPartners clinics. It now has a much more open system and all of
the clinics in Elk River, including the new Allina clinic, would be covered by HealthPartners.
In fact most of them are covered under the Primary network, so unless employees want the
option of seeing specialists without referral, most employees will not need to buy up to the
Open network. Although it is difficult to compare rates because the networks differ slightly,
using the most comparable comparison of Medica Select to HealthPartners Primary clinic
network, rates increase anywhere from two to four and a half percent. This is substantially
less that the 24 percent Medica proposed. Based on the budgeted $10.00 per month increase
in the city's contribution to the flexible benefits plan and a similar provider network,
employees taking family coverage would pay $299.37 per month in 2002, an increase of
$2.19 over the amount paid in 2001. The Medica and Delta renewals would have cost that
employee $503.35 per month, an increase of $206.17. Please see the attached spreadsheet
for more rate information.
The dental contract for 2002 has also been reviewed due to some provider network
problems with the Delta Dental plan and the large premium increase. The HealthPartners
proposal covers all of the dentists in Elk River and the rates are much more reasonable,
$24.57 for single coverage and $64.17 for family coverage versus $28.80 and $75.25
respectively for Delta Dental.
Finally, HealthPartners is offering a second year rate guarantee as part of this contract. If
the city agrees, the renewal rates for 2003 will be guaranteed to increase no more than 20
percent but no less than ten percent. It is very unlikely that the city's premiums would
increase less than ten percent; however, it is very possible that the city's premiums would
increase more than 20 percent. Therefore, this is a provision that the city should take
advantage of with HealthPartners to cap next year's increase.
Action Requested
City Council is asked to approve the health and dental insurance contracts with
HealthParmers for January 1, 2002, and enter into a two year rate guarantee for health
insurance as outlined above.
S / Coundl/ InsurRennv
NON UNION INSURANCE CONTRACT NAL JANUARY 1, 2002
Current Rates effective January 2001
Employee & Spouse Employee & Child{ren! Eamil.v
Elect Select Elect ~ Elect Select Elect Select
Life 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.63
Single Dental 21.65 21.85 21.65 21.65 21.65 21.65 21.65 21.65
Medica Health" 223.50 248.31 409.20 521.41 413.29 459.35 783.87 870.90
Cost of Core Benefits 249.78 274.59 495.54 547.09 439.57 485.63 810.15 897.18
City Contribution 310.00 310.00 460,00 460.00 460.00 460.00 600.00 600.00
Employee Cost /(Flex) 160.22) (35,41) 35.54 87.69 (20.43) 25.63 210.15 297.18
January 2002 - Medlca Renewal
Sina_le F.[QIZ[g~ & Spouse Employee & Child(ren) Family
Elect Select ~ Select Elect Select Elect Select
Life 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.03 4,63 4.63
Single Dental 28.80 28.80 28.80 28.80 28,80 28,80 28.80 28.80
Medica Health" 277.14 307.90 581.88 640,55 512.48 569.59 972.00 1,079.92
Cost of Cora Benefits 310.57 341.33 615.31 679.98 545.91 603.02 1,005.43 1,113.35
City Contribution - budgeted 320.00 320.00 470.00 470.00 470.00 470.00 610,00 610.00
Employee Cost/(Flex) {9.43) 21.33 145.31 209.98 75.91 133.O2 395.43 503.35
January 2002 - HealthPartnerl
Single Employee & Spouse Employee & Child(ren) Family
.C_Jassic Primary eden Classic Primary Open Classi~ Primary ~ Classic Primary Open
Life 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.63 4.03 4.63
Single Dental - HealthPartners 24.57 24.57 24.57 24.57 24.57 24.57 24.57 24.57 24,57 24.57 24.57 24.57
Health Partners 240.33 259.81 280.60 490.79 530.5'8 573.03 436.80 472.21 509.99 814.16 880.17 950.58
Cost of Core Benefits 269,53 289.01 309.80 519.99 559.78 602.23 466.00 501.41 539.19 843.36 909.37 979.78
City Contribution - budgeted 320.00 320.00 320.00 470.00 470.00 470.00 470.00 470.00 470.00 610.00 610.00 610.00
Employee Cost/JFlex) (50.47) (30.99) J10.20) 49.99 89.78 132,23 (4.00) 31.41 69.19 233.36 299.37 369.78
NOTE: Coverage is the same under both Medica and HealthPartner plans.
HealthPartners family dental premium is $64.17
Uedica family dental premium is $75.25.
11/8/01
Hlthins