H-GAC carefully reviews and analyzes our employee benefits package on an annual basis to provide the best coverage available while also competing for the best rates possible. Historically, the H-GAC Board has approved medical, dental, vision, voluntary life and long-term disability coverage for the benefits package offered to employees. Recognizing that employees have a wide range of needs when purchasing health care benefits, H-GAC has traditionally provided three plans from which to choose. Beginning in 2020, H-GAC requested employees contribute nominally to their coverage if employees wanted the highest and most robust coverage of the three plans available.  H-GAC does not participate in contributing toward the coverage of dependents

H-GAC solicited proposals for health care benefits for its employees with the assistance of Alliant Insurance Services. The past twelve months have shown improvement for H-GAC on their claim to premium ratio, thus we were able to secure favorable proposals for health benefits for the coming benefit year. H-GAC received proposals from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (our current provider), Aetna, and United Healthcare. Unfortunately. the Aetna proposal was not competitive, leaving only Blue Cross Blue Shield and United Health Care as competitive proposals.

Both proposers offered three tiers of coverage including the traditional Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan; a Consumer Driven Health Plan/Health Savings Account (HSA) plan; and a more affordable Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan. Blue Cross Blue Shield offered to extend the current premium structure for another 12 months with an additional $10,000 credit to be used on health-related activities during the year. United Health Care offered a 3.4% reduction in current rates with a 2% additional discount if H-GAC would also allow them to underwrite the dental coverage. The following chart outlines the proposals as well as other coverages for vision, life, and disability insurance:

Benefit Pool

Yes

Request approval for the Executive Director to negotiate contracts for employee benefits coverage with United Health Care as proposed and to extend other coverages as outlined, with no changes to vision or life and disability coverage. (Staff Contact: Laura Tomlinson)