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County approves switch to MetLife for dental and supplemental plans and private PFML administration
Summary
The Koochiching County Board approved switching dental and voluntary supplemental health benefits to MetLife and hiring MetLife to administer a private family medical leave program that meets Minnesota requirements, with premiums split 50/50 between the county and employees.
The Koochiching County Board on Aug. 12 voted to switch the county’s dental and supplemental voluntary health plans to MetLife and to hire MetLife as administrator for a private paid family and medical leave (PFML) plan that meets state requirements.
Administrator Cole told the board that Dearborn Dental is exiting the market and Integrity (the voluntary benefits broker) ran an RFP. "We're gonna be recommending the switch from Cigna to MetLife," Cole said, adding that MetLife proposed an 11% dental increase in 2026 with a rate cap thereafter and offered a 2‑year rate guarantee for the private PFML plan. Cole said MetLife’s quoted premium for PFML (0.79%) compared with the state rate (0.88%) and that the county negotiated that employers pay at least half of the premium; the plan would be split 50% by the county and 50% by employees as required by statute.
Why it matters: The state‑level paid family and medical leave requirement takes effect Jan. 1, 2026; employers must either participate in the state plan or provide a private plan that meets statutory standards and that provides at least the state‑required employer contribution amount. County staff presented the insurance committee’s recommendation and said the switch aligns voluntary benefit vendors for improved administration.
Board action: Following discussion and a motion, the board approved the recommended changes by voice vote. No roll‑call tally was recorded in the minutes; county staff said the insurance committee had already reviewed the RFPs and recommended MetLife.
Speakers - Administrator Cole (county administration) - Commissioner Och (mover) - Commissioner McIntyre (seconder)
Authorities - statute: Minnesota state family medical leave requirements (referenced generically in discussion; no statute section number was read on the record). Referenced_by:["insurance-metlife-pfml"]
Proper_names:[{"name":"MetLife","type":"business"},{"name":"Dearborn Dental","type":"business"},{"name":"Cigna","type":"business"}]
Provenance.transcript_segments:[{"block_id":"445.115","local_start":0,"local_end":200,"evidence_excerpt":"Sure. A few months ago, we received those from Dearborn Dental that they would not be serving us anymore in 2026... So we're gonna be recommending the switch from Cigna to MetLife.","tc_start":"00:07:25","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"696.49","local_start":0,"local_end":160,"evidence_excerpt":"...Higher earning people will get a lower percentage of their wage. So there's a tiered system in there...the statute also required the employer to pay at least 50% of the premium...","tc_start":"00:11:36","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]
Salience.overall:0.72
