A-21)
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
Consider recommendations regarding the Employee Benefit Insurance Program Renewals for
Calendar Year 2026, as follows: (4/5 Vote Required)
a) Approve the following employee benefit insurance program renewals, each for 12-month period
beginning January 1, 2026:
i) Public Risk Innovation, Solutions, and Management (PRISM) Health Blue Shield Health Plans
Renew 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) at the existing benefit levels with a 13.92% premium increase
for all active employees and retirees;
ii) Kaiser Permanente Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Health Plans
Renew the Kaiser Permanente High and Low HMO plans for active employees and early retirees
at the existing benefit levels with a 13.92% increase in premiums, and renewal of the Kaiser Senior
Advantage Plans for all Medicare-eligible retirees at the existing benefit levels, with a 9.8 %
increase in premiums;
iii) Retiree United Healthcare Medicare Risk HMO Health Plans
Renew the United Healthcare Medicare Advantage Plans for retirees, with a change from the
current Medicare HMO Advantage Plan to a Medicare PPO Advantage Plan with a 33.78%
increase for the Low Plan and a 27.02% increase for the High Plan;
iv) County Self-Funded Delta Dental PPO Plan
Renew the County’s self-funded Delta Dental PPO Plan at existing benefit levels, except removing
the congenitally missing tooth exclusion, and with a 2.8% increase in premiums for active
employees and retirees;
v) DeltaCare USA - Dental HMO (DHMO) Plan
Renew the DeltaCare USA DHMO plan at existing benefit levels for active employees and retirees
with no rate increase due to an existing rate guarantee;
vi) Vision Service Provider (VSP) - Choice Vision Plan
Renew the VSP Choice Plan for active employees and retirees with no change in premiums due to
an existing rate guarantee; and
vii) Empathia Life Matters - Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Renew the LifeMatters EAP at existing benefit levels with no change in rates for all active
employees and retirees;
b) Delegate authority to the Human Resources Director, or designee, to execute all necessary
agreements and documents, e.g. renewal letters, amendments, or plan change acknowledgements,
