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County staff recommends 9% dental rate increase for employees; $2.44 monthly cost to individual plans
Summary
County benefits staff and broker Gallagher asked the commissioners to approve a 9% increase in employee dental rates through the North Carolina Health Insurance Pool and reported a two-year rate guarantee on multiple ancillary lines.
County benefits staff recommended the Board of Commissioners approve a 9% increase to the county’s employee dental coverage, which would raise the individual employee premium by $2.44 per month, and reported a two-year rate guarantee across ancillary benefits.
The county’s benefits specialist said the plan carrier is MetLife and that, after negotiations through the North Carolina Health Insurance Pool and Gallagher, the increase was reduced from a proposed 16.3% to 12% and finally to 9%. The specialist said the county’s contribution policy does not cover dental; the 9% increase affects employees who elect the dental plan.
Terry Bowden of Gallagher joined the meeting remotely and confirmed the carrier is MetLife and that participant lines including vision, basic life and disability received a two-year rate guarantee. County staff recommended the board approve the 9% increase so employees could continue dental coverage at an affordable cost.
During the discussion commissioners asked how many employees participate and were told approximately 389 full-time employees are eligible for benefits, though part-time temporary staff are not covered. Commissioners also asked whether employees may opt out; staff said employees can waive benefits during orientation if they choose another plan.
The transcript records the presentation, clarifying questions and the staff recommendation; it does not record a formal motion or vote on the increase at this meeting.
