May 9, 2022 Employees Trust SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY OF NEDERLAND
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TRUST
4:44 p.m. May 9, 2022
1. MEETING
The meeting was called to order at 4:44 p.m. by Chairperson Albanese at the
Nederland City Office Building, 207 N. 12TH Street, Nederland, Texas.
The following statement was posted:
"PURSUANT TO SECTION 30.07, PENAL CODE (TRESPASS BY LICENSE HOLDER
WITH AN OPENLY CARRIED HANDGUN), A PERSON LICENSED UNDER
SUBCHAPTER H, CHAPTER 411, GOVERNMENT CODE (HANDGUN LICENSING
LAW), MAY NOT ENTER THIS PROPERTY WITH A HANDGUN THAT IS CARRIED
OPENLY."
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Vice-Trustee Austin and seconded by Trustee Root to approve
the minutes of the April 26, 2021 meeting of the Employee Benefits Trust as written.
MOTION CARRIED.
Ayes: Chairperson Albanese, Trustees Austin, Neal, Sonnier, and Root.
Noes: None.
3. HEALTH INSURANCE
Mr. Duque, said the City's health insurance provider is Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas
(BCBST) which expires on June 30th. The current plan year (July 2021 - April 2022)
loss ratio (total paid medical and prescription claims over paid premiums) is 139%.
Bids were opened on April 20th. Due to the high loss ratio the submitted bids were
high. The City's insurance consultant (HUB International) negotiated a best and final
offer from BCBST with a renewal of 10.2%.
Currently the City provides a two-option plan design (Standard Plan and High
Deductible Health Plan) with varying levels of dependent coverage (employee-only,
employee + spouse, employee + children, and family) and differing monthly
premiums. The combined cost to the city is $1,228,365.48. The new rates using the
Standard Plan and High Deductible Health Plan will cost the City an additional
$109,711.08 or 58.37% of the total price increase.
Due to this year's premium increase, BCBST is offering a new HMO plan utilizing the
Blue Essentials network that has minimal disruption from the existing PPO network.
Due to the unknown amount of migration from the existing PPO and HSA plan to the
HMO plan, the potential additional cost savings cannot be quantified.
A motion was made by Trustee Neal and seconded by Vice-Chairperson Austin to award
a bid for employee health insurance to Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas. MOTION
CARRIED.
Ayes: Chairperson Albanese, Trustees Austin, Neal, Sonnier, and Root.
Noes: None.
4. DENTAL INSURANCE
Mr. Duque, stated the City utilizes United HealthCare (UHC) as its dental insurance
provider. Under the dental insurance plan design, the City pays 100% of the employee
premiums and 0% of dependent premiums, regardless of whether the employee
chooses the HIGH or LOW plan. The majority of City employees and retirees utilize
the HIGH plan. Currently the City spends approximately $35,010.36 on dental
insurance premiums. The renewal quote with UHC came with a 19% rate increase.
The BCBST renewal came in with a 3% increase. Staff recommends awarding the
dental insurance to BCBST maintaining the same plan design and contribution model.
A motion was made by Trustee Root and seconded by Trustee Sonnier to award a bid
for employee dental insurance to Blue Cross Blue Shield Texas. MOTION CARRIED.
Ayes: Chairperson Albanese, Trustees Austin, Neal, Sonnier, and Root.
Noes: None.
5. VISION INSURANCE
A motion was made by Trustee Sonnier and seconded by Trustee Root to award a bid
for employee vision insurance to United Health Care. MOTION CARRIED.
Ayes: Chairperson Albanese, Trustees Austin, Neal, Sonnier, and Root.
Noes: None.
6. ADJOURN
There being no further business a motion was made by Chairperson Albanese and
seconded by Trustee Neal to adjourn the meeting at 5:04 p.m. MOTION CARRIED.
Ayes: Chairperson Albanese, Trustees Austin, Neal, Sonnier, and Root.
Noes: None.
Don Albanese, Chairperson
City of Nederland Employee Benefits Trust
ATTEST:
Talmadge Austin, Secretary
City of Nederland Employee Benefits Trust