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County approves new dental/vision renewal and moves to Franciscan for clinic services
Summary
The board accepted a bundled renewal with Equitable (dental) and VSP (vision), which reduced the dental renewal from 24% to 13%, and approved moving county clinic services to Franciscan Health under a flat monthly fee model, effective Jan. 1, 2026 pending legal review. Estimated annual spend was presented at $230,000–$276,000.
LaPorte County commissioners voted Sept. 3 to accept a renewal recommendation for county employee dental and vision coverage and to transition the county health clinic to Franciscan Health.
Eric Gibson (Hightower) told the board Equitable, the current dental carrier, initially proposed a 24% increase on dental-only renewal. "By bundling vision, they are going to come down to a 13% renewal offer," Gibson said, adding that Equitable would administer vision under the VSP network and increase the vision allowance to $150. Gibson recommended keeping dental with Equitable and adding the VSP vision option to reduce net cost while improving vision benefits.
On clinic services, Gibson recommended moving from the current NorthShore arrangement to Franciscan Health, which would operate under a flat monthly fee covering a defined list of medicines and primary-care services rather than itemized pharmacy billing. Gibson recommended starting a Healthy Access program agreement Jan. 1, 2026 after the NorthShore termination period ends; the board approved the recommendation pending legal review.
Gibson estimated annual program spend under the Franciscan model at roughly $230,000 to $276,000, depending on employee participation; he said many employees already use Franciscan physicians, which should ease the transition. The board approved motions to adopt the benefits renewal and to enter the Healthy Access program agreement, contingent on legal review.
