Board keeps dental, accepts new life and critical-illness carriers; ancillary options offered to employees

The board approved a package of employee ancillary and life-benefit recommendations for coverage effective Jan. 1, 2026. Administration and third-party broker First Financial solicited competitive bids for dental, critical illness, vision and life products and presented recommendations to trustees. For dental, the broker recommended staying with the current provider because of a long-standing dental rewards program and modest premium differences. For critical illness, staff recommended switching from the current provider (Aflac) to Cigna based on lower employee premiums for the same benefit structure. Vision premiums were guaranteed through 2027 with no change. For basic group life and voluntary supplemental life, the recommendation was to move to Standard, which matched current Voya rates, offered value-added services and a three-year rate guarantee. Standard also offered an enhanced voluntary life guarantee issue window (up to $200,000 for employees and $25,000 for spouses during open enrollment) without medical underwriting, administration said. Administration outlined plans for face-to-face open-enrollment sessions with licensed agents in October and November and for digital and printed communications to staff. The board approved the recommended ancillary package and the basic group life coverage in separate votes. Trustees asked for clear employee communications and welcomed the enhanced voluntary life guarantee issue option; administration confirmed it would prepare marketing materials and in-person enrollment sessions for staff prior to the open-enrollment period.