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Ely City Council approves 2025–26 employee health plan renewal with modest rate increase
Summary
The Ely City Council unanimously approved the city's employee health‑plan renewal for Dec. 1, 2025–Nov. 30, 2026; Sierra Health & Life proposed a roughly 2.7% medical renewal and HR recommended keeping current plan design to avoid higher deductibles.
The Ely City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 23 to approve a renewal of the city's employee health, dental, vision and life coverage for the Dec. 1, 2025 – Nov. 30, 2026 plan year, following a presentation by Human Resources Director Desiree Ramirez and LP Insurance Services.
Ramirez told the Council that Sierra Health & Life released a renewal showing an approximate 2.7% increase on the medical plan. She said the city's medical loss ratio was about 93% and employee utilization has been high, but recommended approving the renewal without changing coverage design. "Even with that experience, Sierra Health and Life released the renewal at a 2.7% increase," Ramirez said.
The broker presented alternative plan designs with higher deductibles that would have lowered premiums but would change out‑of‑pocket obligations for employees; the HR director recommended maintaining the existing plan structure to minimize employee cost shifts. Councilman Terrill Trask moved to accept the HR recommended renewal; Councilman Dennis Perea seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
The Council did not adopt any changes to plan deductibles or cost‑sharing at the meeting. The renewal numbers and vendor contracts will be implemented for the December 1 plan start date and scheduled for review during future budget cycles.
