Village commission directs manager to proceed with Florida Blue renewal, add PPO and raise life benefit

The Village of Biscayne Park commission on Tuesday directed the manager to pursue renewing the village’s employee health plan with Florida Blue, adopt the option of a PPO alongside the current HMO and increase the employer‑paid life insurance benefit to one time salary.

The action followed an insurance presentation from Maureen, the village’s benefits consultant, who said Florida Blue’s renewal came in at 12.93% for the June 1 plan year with no benefit design changes. She told the commission that alternate bidders quoted higher increases — AvMed at roughly 38.7% and UnitedHealthcare at about 23.6% — and that Cigna and Aetna declined to quote. "Florida Blue came in with a 12.93% renewal increase for our 06/01/2026 renewal," Maureen said, calling it the most feasible option for the village.

The commission debated two choice points: whether to add a PPO option for employees and whether to raise the basic life insurance from $15,000 to an amount equal to one time salary, a change that would increase the village’s employer cost by roughly $33,000–$37,000 depending on the option selected. Finance staff and the interim finance director told commissioners the budgeted personnel lines can absorb the increase. Paul, a finance representative, said the budgeted insurance allowance and staffing assumptions left sufficient funds to cover the renewal and the potential life‑insurance change.

After discussion, a commissioner moved and the panel voted by majority to direct the manager to move forward with the Florida Blue renewal, to offer the PPO alongside the HMO by applying the existing employer contribution to the PPO option, and to increase the life insurance to a one‑time salary amount. The commission asked staff to place a ratifying resolution on the next meeting agenda to formalize the decision.

Why it matters: The decision commits the village to a near‑term employer cost increase and sets benefits choices employees will see at open enrollment tomorrow. The manager and staff will return with the resolution and final plan documents for formal adoption.

What’s next: Staff will implement the enrollment plan with the vendor, present the ratifying resolution at the next commission meeting, and provide detailed employer/employee cost tables and enrollment materials to employees.