The City of Bridgeport on Aug. 4 approved purchase of health, dental, vision, life, accidental death and disability insurance for fiscal year 2025–26 as negotiated by Stevens, Bastion and Cartwright, SBC, with coverage provided through Blue Cross Blue Shield as presented.

Benefits broker Bridal Stevens, of Stevens, Bastion and Cartwright, SBC, told the council the city’s plan has experienced unusually high claims in recent years, including a 12‑month loss ratio of 242% and a three‑year average loss ratio of 230%. Stevens said the plan had 16 claims over $20,000 in the last 12 months, nine over $50,000 and a single top claimant of $612,000. He said total annual premium was roughly $850,000 and that claims exceeded contributions by about $1.2 million in the most recent 12‑month period.

Those numbers produced an initial renewal quote that was 28% above the current premiums, Stevens said, but he said negotiating and plan design changes lowered that renewal for the city to 21.79% for the same plan design. He also presented alternate plan designs that would limit employee out‑of‑pocket exposure and which would produce a roughly 10% increase for employees who switched to those options. Stevens said the alternates would keep co‑payments and the key out‑of‑pocket protection close to current levels.

City staff and councilmembers discussed the budget impact. A councilmember estimated the initial 21.79% renewal would have required about a $160,000 increase in the city budget; using alternate plan choices reduced the budget hit to about $80,000, according to remarks recorded in the meeting. Stevens also said two other carriers either declined to quote or returned much higher proposals—one near 90% and another in the 40% range (UnitedHealthcare was mentioned as having quoted in the forties).

Stevens summarized ancillary lines: dental moved from a projected 3% increase to a negotiated 3% decrease; employer‑paid life premiums fell about 12%; voluntary life remained on a multiyear rate guarantee with no increase; and long‑term disability was negotiated down from a starting 20% increase to about a 6% increase.

Councilmember Susan (last name not specified in the transcript) moved to approve the purchase as presented; Councilmember Matt Banhos seconded. The motion carried 4–0 with Councilmember Jean (last name not specified in the transcript) recorded absent.

The insurance item was presented during the council’s action items. Broker Stevens and staff emphasized that continued high claims would make future renewals more difficult and that the city benefits from being with a large carrier that blends the city’s experience with the carrier’s broader predictive model.

Councilmembers and the broker said employees’ most important protection—annual out‑of‑pocket exposure that triggers full plan coverage—remains nearly unchanged under the chosen plan, though some alternates would raise deductibles modestly where they reduce premiums.

The approval directs staff to finalize the contracts and premium arrangements as negotiated and implement the benefit plan for fiscal year 2025–26.