Insurance and Benefits Consultant Services

The Vendor is required to provide insurance consultant that is not affiliated with any insurance company, third party administrative agency or provider network.
- Requirement:
•    Perform research and provide responses to technical questions posed by county. 
•    Assist with annual renewal of all insurance products. 
•    Perform annual review and consultation related to plan designs of employee insurance programs including utilization, access and cost impact on medical, dental and vision insurance plans; employee assistance programs, as well as for the local disability insurance for VRS hybrid plan employees. 
•    Make recommendations for changes to benefit offerings for all insurance plans based on state and national market, expert knowledge, and financial constraints of county and pcs. 
•    Prepare and communicate recommendations in both a detailed and high-level format as requested by county staff and the county board of supervisors. 
•    Provide periodic comparisons of the offerings of county to surrounding municipalities (as it relates to our ability to attract new employees and retain existing employees).
•    Track and report progress of benefit plans on a quarterly basis, coordinating with benefit providers to obtain relevant performance data. 
•    Provide analysis of benefit plan performance. 
•    Identify the proper employer and employee contribution amounts, including employer HSA contributions, to match county current economic status. 
•    We currently have 462 employees.
•    Provide consultation on matters including, but not limited to, plan interpretation and problem resolution, and attendance at review meetings to assist in the management of all insurance programs. 
•    Maintain all records for 5 years from contract inception. 
•    Make recommendations to market products as needed. 
•    Work with procurement staff when employee benefits are marketed, prepare request for proposal, bid specifications, identify appropriate markets, analyze proposals submitted, make recommendations and assist in negotiation of contracts. 
•    Assist with conducting annual enrollment meetings and assist employees with online enrollment. 
•    Assist in employee communications to include verbal and print publications. 
•    Assist with claim reporting, handling and settlement. 
•    Assist in the settlement of disputes between county and the insurance carrier. 
•    Assist retirees over age 65 with Medicare supplemental plans to obtain medical and dental plans. 
•    Monitor ongoing contracts, including provider plan administration, provider compliance with contract and incurred claims. 
•    Assist with implications and consequences of the health care reform act, provide updates on changes that will affect county as a benefit provider to our employees. 
•    Review the program on a continuing basis to ensure that the plan complies with government regulations. 
•    Provide one contact person to be available to answer questions and resolve issues with a reasonable turn-around time, preferably one business day and one backup person that is available to assist if the assigned contact person is unavailable. 
•    Shall be prepared to provide assistance during county open enrollment periods (typically the month of august). 
•    Premiums for the new plan year are deducted from paychecks in September for an effective date of October 1 each year. 
•    Indicate what your firm would charge to administer COBRA. 
•    Provide copies of your licenses and any training certificates.