City staff: adding commissioners to UnitedHealthcare plan unlikely in next fiscal year; costs to be tracked

City staff told the commission during a budget work session that adding commissioners to the city’s UnitedHealthcare health plan as a new employee class probably cannot be incorporated into the coming fiscal year’s budget because the insurer already produced the plan rates.

The city manager said UnitedHealthcare raised concerns about creating a new employee class after the insurer had supplied cost estimates; adding that class now could jeopardize the rates already provided. Staff estimated the employer portion of coverage would amount to roughly $9,000–$9,600 per year per commissioner.

Details from staff: The city manager said the three health-plan options are available and that one plan would be fully employer-paid for the covered employee. Miss Mathis contacted UnitedHealthcare and reported that because the commission members would form a special class (neither full- nor part-time under current classifications), the insurer is reluctant to change the pool of covered lives after issuing quotes. Open enrollment follows the fiscal year; staff said they will continue to pursue costs and the feasibility of adding the commission as a distinct class for the next budget year.

What happens next: Staff will continue to explore the administrative and cost implications and present options in a future budget cycle; no formal action was taken during the session.

Ending: Commissioners were given the plan summaries and encouraged to raise questions during open enrollment; staff emphasized timing constraints would likely prevent implementation for the coming fiscal year.