Weston approves Blue Cross renewal for city employee health plan with 13.39% premium increase

The Weston City Commission on Jan. 21 approved a resolution to renew health insurance coverage for the city's 12 employees with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, a renewal staff said carries a 13.39% increase in annual premiums.

City Manager Don Decker told commissioners the city's consultant performed a market analysis and recommended keeping the current Blue Cross plan because it offered the best combination of benefits, network and cost. "The plan is compliant with the Affordable Health Care Act and will be a 13.39% increase in premiums year over year," Decker said.

The commission voted 5-0 to approve the renewal after brief questions from members. Commissioner Fabio Andrade thanked staff for the briefing; Vice Mayor Henry Mead and other commissioners had no objections. No members of the public spoke.

Why it matters: staff and the consultant attributed the increase to national health-care inflation and the city's small, largely senior employee population. During discussion, a city staff member identified as Mr. Thomas said the average U.S. health-care inflation rate is about 9%, and noted the city's largely senior staffing adds several percentage points to that increase.

The vote: moved by Commissioner Mary Molina McPhee, seconded by Commissioner Andrade; roll call was unanimous (Andrade, Mead, Molina McPhee, Byron Jaffe, Mayor Margaret Brown). The resolution requires the four-fifths procurement vote specified by the city's procurement code and was approved as presented.

Next steps: the city will implement the renewed Blue Cross plan for the covered employees under the terms negotiated and will continue to monitor plan costs as part of annual budgeting.