Employee Benefits Consultant Services

The Vendor is required to provide employee benefits consulting services for health insurance and other ancillary insurance benefits including life and death and dismemberment, long-term disability, voluntary life and voluntary long-term disability coverage for the town.
- Consulting services shall include, but not be limited to, day-to-day benefit consulting, review and analysis of renewal offers from service providers and/or carriers, budget recommendations, cost containment and other administrative and labor related services.
- The Town at the present time is fully-funded, to provide medical, prescription and dental benefits to approximately 600 employees and retirees based on a monthly average.
- Provide qualified and expert professional services, including but not limited to:
•    Conduct renewal negotiations or request for proposal(s) with the providers/vendors. Prepare complete, accurate and detailed accounting and analysis of all claims cost, administrative fees, stop loss insurance, etc.
•    Assist the town with budget planning for employee health care benefits by providing renewal estimates no later than mid-December and final renewal by mid-march. Recommendations to town board of selectperson’s, administrators, and finance director.
•    Determine annual allocation rates for the various health plans.
•    Monitor and coordinate services including claims performance, trend analysis, stop-loss threshold, large claims, demographic data, etc. On a regular basis. Analyze and report on utilization trends and costs.
•    Ensure that fully-funded arrangements with providers/vendors are appropriately managed. Intervene and resolve claims issues with providers/vendors.
•    Provide consulting advice for all phases of union negotiations relative to health insurance and other ancillary benefits, including attendance at strategy and negotiation meetings, as well as mediation and arbitration if needed.
•    Ensure accurate follow through on all negotiated contractual agreements.
•    Assist the town in establishing a strategic plan for employee health care and other benefits. Provide ongoing analysis and planning of new approaches to employee health care benefits. Take initiative to provide recommendations for cost-containment related to health insurance and other ancillary benefits including plan designs, employee-cost share arrangements, and wellness initiatives. Advise the town on any current or emerging employee benefit programs.
•    Assist and provide recommendations for compliance requirements of state and federal regulations, statutes and mandates, e.g. COBRA, HIPAA, and healthcare reform.
•    Inform the town of changing legislation and legal decisions affecting employee health benefits. Advise and discuss methods to comply with these changes.
•    Assure that all health and ancillary insurance documents are current and accurate including medical, prescription and dental plan designs and life insurance and long-term disability insurance policies.
•    Assist the Town with annual open enrollment process. Development of employee communications and educational programs as needed. 
•    Conduct employee information meetings on health benefits, especially as related to new employee benefit programs and/or plan designs.
•    Provide an annual report including analysis of claims experience and loss exposures, loss control activities, observations on relevant changes in the health care insurance market, and recommendations for cost containment and employee benefit planning. 

- Contract Period/Term: 3 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: October 14, 2025