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Fenton committee forwards 2026–27 employee benefit renewals, picking higher-deductible MEWA plan
Summary
The Board of Aldermen Committee voted unanimously to forward a package of 2026–27 employee benefit renewals—selecting MEWA Plan 17 for medical coverage and moving dental, vision and life plans to Mutual of Omaha—after staff and broker Daniel & Henry presented rate and deductible trade-offs.
The Fenton Board of Aldermen Committee on April 9 voted unanimously to forward the city’s 2026–27 employee benefit renewals to the April Board meeting, selecting a MEWA medical option labeled Plan 17 and recommending Mutual of Omaha for dental, vision and life products.
City Administrator Nikki Finkbiner and June Evers of broker Daniel & Henry Company presented the renewal options and answered aldermen questions about deductible changes, premium differences and how risk was assessed. Committee members compared three MEWA plans: Plan 4 (largest premium increase), Plan 8 (mid-range deductible), and Plan 17 (chosen by the committee), and discussed the effect of higher family deductibles on lower-paid staff.
Alderman Jimmy Lange said he favored Plan 17. Alderwoman Susan Jokerst expressed concern that $7,000–$10,000 family deductibles would be burdensome for lower-paid employees and noted a $5,000 family deductible could be more attainable. Finkbiner said the principal change for employees under the renewal would be higher deductibles; she had not directly surveyed staff on preferences.
Committee members also recommended moving dental, vision, basic life/AD&D and voluntary life, short-term disability and long-term disability to Mutual of Omaha; keeping voluntary worksite benefits with Mutual of Omaha; renewing the EAP with H&H at a reduced cost; and continuing Daniel & Henry for Employee Navigator platform and level-funding/PCORI filing assistance.
The committee’s motion—made by Alderwoman Robin Huels and seconded by Alderman Jimmy Lange—will be considered at the full Board meeting on April 23, where ordinances approving the renewals are expected. The committee did not adopt a final premium schedule at the committee level; the Board will consider formal approval and ordinance adoption at the next meeting.
