Vendor pitches voluntary Globe Life benefits as county faces near-20% health insurance increase

A representative from the Whittingham Agency, which the presenter identified as affiliated with Globe Life, outlined voluntary life, cancer and accident insurance products for county employees and asked to present directly to staff. Board members asked for summary materials to be shared by email, and agreed to revisit whether to authorize on-site presentations at an upcoming meeting. Michael, the representative, said the voluntary program carries no cost to the county and provides introductory no‑cost coverage for employees and family members and a discount card for health services. "At no cost to the city...we help attract and retain employees," Michael said, adding the program's products are portable and premiums do not increase under the vendor's group term approach. Board members asked operational questions about how employees would opt out and how payroll deductions would be handled. Michael described a sign-off process so employees who choose not to participate can register that decision and said the vendor provides a spreadsheet listing employees and deduction amounts to simplify payroll processing. Separately, a staff member reported that the county's health insurance renewal from its current carrier carries about a 19.7% increase. The staff member said that if the county chooses to solicit bids, preliminary work must be done in August and September because insurance changes would take effect Oct. 1. "If we want to bid it...we have to do all of the preliminary work in August, late August, and September," the staff member said. Board members directed staff to discuss the Globe Life materials with payroll (Nancy) and to put a short summary email into circulation so employees are informed before any onsite presentations. The vendor offered to prepare packets and return to a future meeting if the board prefers a formal presentation. No contract or formal approval was voted at the meeting.