The Wellington Village Council reviewed a proposal to renew employee health, dental, vision and life/disability insurance plans that would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, with Cigna Healthcare continuing as the health carrier.

The renewal package presented to the council totals approximately $6,665,257 for health coverage, plus an enhanced HRA funding amount of about $663,000 to cover annual deductibles. Dental coverage was listed at about $367,542, vision at $29,914 and life/disability at about $289,072. Staff reported the overall change represents a 5.8% increase from the current year; the village’s share of the increase is approximately $402,122, and employee-paid portions total about $58,451.

Why it matters: the insurance renewal is a routine but sizable operating cost the village must budget for. Council members pressed staff on employee satisfaction and on concrete changes to plan administration to reduce friction for users.

During discussion, members asked whether the village had shopped other carriers; staff replied the benefits consultant and village negotiators had reviewed alternatives and secured the noted renewal. Barbara, a representative of the Gearing Group who attended the meeting, said the vendor had negotiated the package down to the current 5.8% increase.

Council members raised employee survey results showing lower satisfaction with prescription drug coverage and preventive care. Barbara said Cigna and the village can handle individual cases and that the plan’s formulary constrains some coverage. "If it’s something that’s not on the formulary, then there is an authorization process," she said. Council members asked staff to identify whether a higher formulary tier or targeted formulary additions could address the most common employee complaints before the council votes on final approvals.

One operational change already made: the vendor removed MRI preauthorizations for network imaging centers, a change staff said addressed a frequent complaint. A representative explained, "MRIs do not need authorization anymore," and described the expected procedure: a physician request sent to an in-network imaging center.

Staff also said they will change the FSA administrator; the new administrator named in the presentation will replace the current one. Council members asked staff to return any recommended plan or formulary modifications by the next meeting and to provide the budget impact if changes are proposed.

The proposal remains on the agenda for formal adoption at a subsequent council meeting; staff said any midcourse benefit changes that would alter budgeted amounts will be reported to council ahead of final approval.