During a recent government meeting, officials discussed the upcoming renewal of employee health benefits, focusing on the financial implications of various insurance plans. The meeting highlighted a proposed 10.9% average increase in costs from Aetna, with specific recommendations for each of the three plans offered to employees.

The plans include a high deductible plan, a base PPO plan, and an exclusive provider organization (EPO) plan, referred to as the \"buy up\" plan. Data presented indicated that 40% of employees are enrolled in the high deductible plan, 45% in the base PPO plan, and 14% in the EPO plan. The analysis revealed significant variances in spending across these plans, with the high deductible plan showing a favorable medical loss ratio of 35%, while the EPO plan had a concerning ratio of 173%.

The recommendation from the meeting was to implement a 0% increase for the high deductible plan, a 10.9% increase for the base plan, and a 20% increase for the EPO plan. This approach aims to balance the costs while encouraging employees to consider their health care choices more carefully. For the base plan, this translates to an additional $33 per month for employees, while the EPO plan would see an increase of approximately $1.61 per month.

Concerns were raised about the overall financial impact on the city, as the proposed increases would not fully cover the anticipated $317,000 rise in costs. Officials acknowledged that employees had not seen an increase in three years, emphasizing the need for a careful evaluation of how to manage these costs moving forward.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to provide employees with resources to better understand their options during the upcoming open enrollment period, ensuring they can make informed decisions regarding their health care plans.