Delta Dental proposes 13% rate increase; county staff recommends staying to avoid network disruption
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Summary
Portage County staff reported a two‑year 13% increase proposal from Delta Dental but recommended retaining the carrier to avoid disruption to employees' dentist access; the dental plan is voluntary and fully insured, so the county does not subsidize premiums.
Portage County staff told commissioners Sept. 11 that Delta Dental proposed a two‑year rate increase of about 13 percent for the county's voluntary, fully insured dental plan. The presenter recommended keeping Delta Dental, citing the potential disruption to employees' access to local dentist networks if the county switched carriers.
Staff said the dental RFP produced other proposals but that network disruption and lower local participation made those bids less attractive. The presenter noted Delta Dental is fully insured and optional, meaning the county does not contribute toward premiums for employees who enroll.
Why it matters: switching carriers could leave many employees out of network with their current dentists, the presenter said, and the disruption could affect employee satisfaction even if the county does not pay the premiums.
Board action: the presenter said she would include the dental vendor recommendation in a resolution to return to the board next week; no formal vote on the dental vendor was recorded at the Sept. 11 meeting.