Minutes 07-19-11
MINUTES OF THE BOYNTON BEACH INSURANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
HELD ON JULY 19, 2010, AT 9:00 A.M.
IN THE LIBRARY PROGRAM ROOM, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Pat Sholos, Benefits Administrator Human Resources
Julie Oldbury, Director, Human Resources Human Resources
Catherine Cherry, Recording Secretary City Clerk’s Office
Danielle Crissinger Golf Course
Tim Howard Assistant Finance Director
Robert Kruse Fire Department
Kalem Madh Utilities
Chuck Magazine Risk Management
Hanna Matras Planning and Development
Lori Osborn SCRWTDB
Marisela Sanchez Schoolhouse Children’s Museum
Willis Representatives:
Renee Schindler, Willis
Pat Sholos
, Benefits Administrator, opened the meeting at 9:08 a.m. Self-introductions
were made.
Renee Schindler
, Willis representative, explained the City went to market for Dental
renewal because Humana came in with a 10% increase. Willis tried negotiating with
them to no avail. The City published an RFP for a dental carrier to provide identical
benefits and cost saving alternates. Six carriers responded to the RFP and the top two
were depicted on the handout because they were the most competitive. Humana
responded to the RFP and offered an 8% renewal. They offered an alternate plan
design for 2% under the current rate, but the in-network fees was the out-of-network
reimbursement rate and this equated to the individual paying a lot of money out of
pocket. When a carrier is willing to pay a non-provider in-network fees, all they are
doing is paying a vendor who has no contract with them at all, the same fees they would
pay to the in-network providers. In Ms. Schindler’s opinion, the City would not be
happy with this plan.
MetLife was a prior provider for the City. They proposed two different rate options. It
was the identical contract to what they offered two years ago, which was significant
because when Humana took over for MetLife, there were many services missing from
the Humana contract that MetLife had in their contract. Willis had to fight individually
with Humana to get them paid.
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Insurance Committee
Boynton Beach, FL July 19, 2011
MetLife has the most comprehensive dental coverage Ms. Schindler was aware of after
20 years in the industry. MetLife offered a 12-month and 24-month rate guarantee.
Both proposals were still less than the current proposal with Humana.
Delta Dental was competitively priced and they offered two different plans. One exactly
matched the current plan and the other had a reduction in benefits and came in under
10% of the current plan. Both paid at the 90% rate. One item of significance was Delta
Dental has three tiers of dentists: Delta, Premier, and the out of network. The Delta
network was a much smaller network and was the only one paid as in network. The
Premier network, although contracted, was contracted at a much higher rate, so there
was no discount. The Premier and non-contracted providers are paid as out of network
which is more out of pocket cost.
Blue Cross responded with a similar plan design but their deductible was $25 and
included cleanings three times per year instead of four. Their rates ran at 8% to 16%
above the current rates and was not considered.
Cigna provided quotes and was at the same rate as the current plan or 3% above on a
24-month rate guarantee. If one needed a crown, when using a carrier such as MetLife,
the cost of the crown and the other needed services were bundled together. With
Cigna, nothing was bundled so the individual pays separately for each step of the
process. It was an ala carte process. Although the rates were competitive, Willis
recommended not considering this option.
Another carrier who provided quotes was United Concordia whose proposal came in at
11% above the current rate for the same plan design. Their network was not as strong.
Willis recommended MetLife for several reasons: the City was happy with them in the
past; they have the most comprehensive contract; and they had competitive rates. If
going with Met Life, which proposed a 5% cap on year two, Ms. Schindler would try to
negotiate the rate. There was agreement to review it at the end of the first year.
Mr. Howard commented MetLife and Delta came in at -7% and he suggested Ms.
Schindler make a note that the City checked the figures. He did not know how they
could be the same when there was a $5,000 difference to the current rate. The figures
may need to be rounded because there would be a question raised. Mr. Magazine
recommended the Commission be made aware of the issues with Humana as they
pertained to the specialists.
Discussion followed most contracts were closed contracts. If a service was not
specifically listed in the contract, it was not covered. MetLife has an open contract,
which means if service was not listed, but the provider makes a good case, they will pay
the claim. With Humana, the contract was to match identically, but the contract did not
match because the contract was not filed with the State.
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It was suggested the Commission be made aware there were complaints with Humana,
the City went to bid on the programs, responses were received, and these were the best
three.
The participants unanimously agreed to move the MetLife proposal forward with the 12-
month rate guarantee.
Cigna negotiated strongly to keep the City‘s health insurance business. Ms. Schindler
reported there would be minor plan changes, but no change to the rates. Mr. Magazine
noted there have been problems with Quest labs. Employees have been going to
Quest labs and were charged a fee. Quest claimed they were not being paid, or were
not paid in a timely fashion. It was thought not all the tests performed were necessary,
although the physician ordered them. Ms. Schindler explained she was aware of the
issue and was bringing the matter to a higher official at Cigna.
Vision benefits were discussed and Ms. Schindler explained the City did not go out to
RFP for vision because Humana had a 2% reduction in rates. The City would go out to
bid next year as the contract was for two years. She noted the single-rate for vision was
slightly reduced
The City negotiated a 10% reduction for Life Insurance and 10% on the Supplemental
Life and Supplemental Dependent Life insurance rates. Accordingly, the City would
renew with Hartford. The portion the City pays was also reduced.
Making the transition to MetLife was discussed. In the past, the data was transferred
via spreadsheet to Humana but the information was corrupted. Ms. Schindler
commented it may be necessary to provide hard copies of the information.
Mr. Magazine inquired if there was any discussion about establishing a clinic for
physicals. A clinic had been a service he had been interested in establishing for some
time and he became aware Cigna established one for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s
Department. Ms. Schindler responded she would look into the matter, but it was very
expensive. She acknowledged by being fully insured, there could be a savings in the
carrier being willing to reduce rates and help the client reach a certain point of claims
savings, but a clinic was only one component. Other components had to do with
engaging the employees and incentives. A clinic could be established through another
vendor while still using Cigna, but they would have to issue and RFP and explore it. It
was noted the City had not set aside space or funds to establish one.
The City currently utilizes the Delray Clinic. Mr. Magazine was aware there were a
number of clinics established in Broward County and the feedback was very good. He
contended there could be no impact on health care costs unless a clinic was used.
Clinics have also become Wellness Centers and most were free and included pharmacy
services. There was an incentive to the concept and it provided big savings for family
plans.
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Meeting Minutes
Insurance Committee
Boynton Beach, FL
July 19, 2011
Mr. Magazine discussed health plan audits as it pertained to individuals who were not
on the plan using the insurance. A dependent audit was conducted about two years
ago and he questioned whether it would be done on any kind of a regular basis. He
pointed out Palm Beach County just conducted one and would be prosecuting
individuals. Ms. Schindler acknowledged ex-wives have been kept on the plans and
those employees were repaying the City about $10,000. Divorce decrees would have to
be provided. Whenever there is a life event, employees have to make a change to their
benefits. Mr. Magazine suggested an audit be conducted every four or five years.
Confidentiality was an issue. Ms. Schindler commented that if the Committee wanted to
discuss the clinic and other options, they would facilitate the discussions.
The meeting was closed at 10:00 a.m.
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Catherine Cherry
Recording Secretary
072011
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