Board approves resolution to select United Concordia for county dental coverage

Jessica Barakat, Lehigh County’s Director of Administration, presented the committee with an RFP summary recommending United Concordia as the county’s dental provider and said the recommended plan is part of the Lehigh Valley consortium. "As you can see from that summary, United Concordia significantly under in costs," she said during the Administrative & Human Resources committee.

A member of the public asked whether proposed budget rates meant employees would pay more. Barakat and county staff clarified the RFP attachment lists recommended premium rates; those are proposals used to budget and to inform cost‑sharing decisions, not an immediate charge to employees. The committee moved and voted to forward a positive recommendation; the full Board later adopted Resolution 32 to authorize the County Executive to enter the agreement with United Concordia for the dental coverage portion of the 2027 plan.

Why it matters: selecting a vendor completes a procurement step and allows county staff to finalize plan documents and employee communications ahead of the 2027 benefits year. Officials said they will provide details to employees about any premium‑sharing changes during budget implementation.