Kennedale’s City Council on Tuesday approved moving the city’s employee medical coverage from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas to UnitedHealthcare after the city’s broker said the net effect would reduce medical premiums compared with the incumbent. Why it matters: Health‑plan changes affect city employees and retirees who participate in municipal benefits and alter the city’s recurring personnel costs. What happened: Jennifer Jacobs of Princeton Benefits told the council the city solicited sealed bids for employee benefits. The incumbent Blue Cross Blue Shield initially proposed a renewal of about a 28.9% increase; negotiations lowered that to 15.9%. UnitedHealthcare’s bid, Princeton Benefits said, offered slightly improved benefits and a net change of minus 2.67% compared with the city’s current plan, a savings Princeton Benefits estimated at about $38,182 annually. The council approved the city manager’s authority to sign agreements for health, dental, life, vision and voluntary life coverages. Questions from council: Council members asked whether switching carriers would affect members with prior conditions and were told “by law, there’s no pre‑existing condition limitation.” Councillors also asked about dispute resolution between insurer and providers and were told UnitedHealthcare provides third‑party dispute processes. Other benefits: Jacobs said dental premiums rose about 3% in the broker’s bids and that other benefit lines saw no increase. Next steps: City staff will finalize carrier contracts and the city manager was authorized to execute the agreements. Ending: Council approved the purchase 4‑0.