Title
Consider recommendations regarding 2025 Employee Benefits Insurance Program Renewals, as follows: (4/5 Vote Required)
a) Approve the following 2025 employee benefit insurance program renewals:
i) Public Risk Innovation, Solutions, and Management (PRISM) Health Blue Shield Health Plans - The renewal of the PRISM Blue Shield Tandem Narrow Network, Blue Shield Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) High, Blue Shield EPO Low, Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), and High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) plans for a twelve-month period, at the existing benefit levels with a 4.29% increase in premiums, effective January 1, 2025, for all active employees and retirees. All Blue Shield plans include the PRISM Navigator PPO - Accolade at a zero cost for all covered employees and their dependents;
ii) Kaiser Permanente Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Health Plans - The renewal of the active employees’ and early retirees’ Kaiser Permanente High and Low HMO plans for a twelve-month period at the existing benefit levels, with a 4.29% increase in premiums, effective January 1, 2025, and for all Medicare-eligible retirees, with an average 7.71% increase in premiums for the Senior Advantage Plans, at the existing benefit levels;
iii) Retiree United Healthcare Medicare Risk HMO Health Plans - The renewal of the United Healthcare Medicare Risk HMO Health Plans for County of Santa Barbara retirees, at existing benefit levels, and a 10.8% increase of premium, for a twelve-month period, effective January 1, 2025;
iv) County Self-Funded Delta Dental PPO Plan - The continuation of the existing program benefits with an increase of 1.1% in premiums for both active employees and retirees. Rates are for a twelve-month period, effective January 1, 2025;
v) DeltaCare USA - Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) Plan - The renewal of the existing DeltaCare USA DHMO plan, continues the existing benefit levels for active employees and retirees, with a rate pass for two more years. The Delta Dental DHMO is in a rate guarantee until January 1, 2027;
vi) Vision Service Provider - Choice Vision Plan - The renewal of the existing Vision Service Provider Plan, for active employees and retirees, no change in rate due to a rate guarantee until January 1, 2027. Rates are for a twelve-month period, effective January 1, 2025; and
vii) Empathia Life Matters - Employee Assistance Program - The renewal of the Life Matters Employee Assistance Program with a rate pass for one year for all covered active employees and retirees, for a twelve-month period effective January 1, 2025;
b) Delegate to the Human Resources Director or designee the authority to execute any necessary third-party administrative agreements and documents required to manage plans listed in recommendations a.(i.) through a.(vii.) above and Delegate to the Human Resources Director or designee the authority to accept revenues from PRISM in the amount of $10,735.00 for the implementation of a Mental Health Initiative which supports employee wellbeing;
c) Approve Budget Revision Request No. 0009844 to establish one-time appropriations of $10,735.00 in the Human Resources Department’s Wellness Fund to accept revenue from PRISM; and
d) Determine that these activities are not a “Project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4) because the actions are the creation of a government funding mechanism or other government fiscal activity, which do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.