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Consider recommendations regarding the 2023 Employee Benefits Insurance Program Renewal, as follows: (4/5 Vote Required)
a) In the matter of setting health plan rates for 2023, approve the following 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 an 8.8% increase in premiums, effective January 1, 2023, for all active employees and retirees;
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 an 8.8% increase in premiums, effective January 1, 2023, and for all Medicare-eligible retirees, with 13.19% decrease in premiums for the Senior Advantage Plans, at the existing benefit levels;
iii) 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 2.5% increase of premium, for a twelve-month period, effective January 1, 2023;
iv) County Self-Funded Delta Dental PPO Plan:
The annual Actuarial Underwriting Report for the County Self-Funded Dental Plan and the continuation of the existing program benefits with an increase of 31.34% in premiums for both active employees and retirees, readjusting rates in the Self-Funded plan to help support itself after a number of years of plan buy down to utilize plan surplus. Rates are for a twelve-month period, effective January 1, 2023;
v) DeltaCare USA - Dental HMO Plan:
The renewal of the existing DeltaCare USA Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) plan, continues the existing benefit levels for active employees and retirees, with a rate pass for 2 years;
vi) Vision Service Provider - Choice Vision Plan:
The renewal of the existing Vision Service Provider Plan, for active employees and retirees, with an .04% premium rate decrease with a vision enhancement benefit, for the first year of a four-year rate guarantee, effective January 1, 2023, through the calendar year 2026;
vii) CareCounsel - Healthcare Assistance Program:
The renewal of the CareCounsel Healthcare Assistance Program with a 3% rate increase for all covered active employees and retirees, for a twelve-month period effective January 1, 2023; and
viii) Empathia Life Matters - Employee Assistance Program:
The renewal of the Life Matters Employee Assistance Program with a 5.2% rate increase for all covered active employees and retirees, for a twelve-month period effective January 1, 2023;
b) Further, authorize the Human Resources Director or designee to execute any necessary third-party administrative agreements and documents required to manage plans listed in recommendations a.(i) through a.(viii) above;
c) In the matter of revenues from PRISM, approve as follows:
i) Approve and authorize the Human Resources Department Director to accept revenue from PRISM in the amount of $8,690.00 for the implementation of the Mental Health Initiative which supports employee wellbeing; and
ii) Approve Budget Revision Request No. 0008553 to establish one-time appropriations of $8,690.00 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.