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City keeps 2026 premiums flat, adds ancillary benefits and updates dental and critical-illness coverage
Summary
The board reviewed staff recommendations to adjust ancillary employee benefits, moved some coverages to Equitable and MetLife, added accident and hospital-indemnity options, and announced no premium increase for medical, dental or vision in 2026.
City HR staff and benefits brokers presented updates to the city’s ancillary employee-benefit offerings and informed the board that there will be no premium increase for medical, dental or vision coverage for City of La Porte employees in 2026.
Andrea Smith, HR director, introduced Don Ganda (Innovative Broker Solutions) and Eric Gibson (High Street), who reviewed market efforts and recommended carrier changes intended to reduce costs and enhance benefits. Staff recommended moving dental from MetLife to Equitable while keeping life insurance with Equitable; the presenters said Equitable’s dental offering would be priced below current rates and would add a teeth-whitening benefit. The group also recommended continuing vision with MET and moving short-term disability and some lines to Equitable for price and benefit improvements.
Presenters also proposed continuing American Fidelity for voluntary worksite products and adding accident and hospital-indemnity through Mutual of Omaha and critical-illness coverage through MetLife, with the latter removing preexisting-condition limitations for critical-illness claims. “Due to our due diligence and discipline, there will be no premium increase for City of La Porte employees for medical, dental, or vision in 2026,” Andrea Smith said at the meeting.
Board members unanimously approved the recommended changes; staff thanked the benefits team and noted the changes will simplify carrier relationships while preserving or enhancing employee choice and some coverages.
