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Board directs administrator to issue benefits‑broker RFP as HR outlines options for health plan changes
Summary
County HR presented options — keep current broker (HUB), pursue self‑funding feasibility, consider (but not recommend) ICRA and caution on WCIF — and commissioners directed staff to issue a request for proposals for brokerage services and to schedule broker presentations in the coming weeks before plan design decisions.
County Human Resources Director Margo Wilder briefed the Board of County Commissioners during the May 21 workshop about health‑benefits options and advised a decision point on whether to keep the current broker or solicit new brokers. Wilder and staff summarized materials from six broker presentations: the current broker (HUB) presented a feasibility plan for partial or full self‑funding, some brokers advised that ICAs/ICRA arrangements are possible but not generally recommended for an employer of Franklin County’s size, and one pooled option (WCIF) raised concerns in broker discussions because of recent news coverage about alleged wrongdoing at that organization’s former employee.
Wilder explained the practical timeline constraints: the county must finalize broker and plan decisions in time to run its open‑enrollment process and prepare payroll integrations; HR recommended an RFP process for brokerage services and said a fast‑tracked RFP could be put into the field with a mid‑July response window to allow market quotes in time for fall open enrollment. Commissioners discussed goals including contribution‑change options, potential limits on waiver payouts, and the bargaining‑unit implications of plan or contribution changes.
Following discussion the board directed staff to prepare and issue an RFP for benefits‑broker services, with a plan to review written proposals, pare finalists and schedule oral presentations within roughly a month. Commissioners asked the administrator and HR to manage the process and noted that final plan design and contribution decisions may require negotiation with bargaining units; no formal plan change was adopted at the workshop.
