City of Holyoke Health Benefit Trust Meeting September 29, 2025
5:00 pm City Hall Holyoke
536 Dwight St, Holyoke 01040
City of Holyoke Health Benefit Trust
Monday, September 29, 2025
Former Tax Collector’s Office, City Hall
5:00PM
Agenda
- Medex Renewal discussion
- Discussion on future selection process for broker
- New Business
City of Holyoke Health Benefit Meeting
September 29, 2025
City Hall, Old Tax Collector’s Office
The meeting was called to order by Quentin Donohue at 5:06 PM
In attendance:
PEC Representatives: Joe O’Connor- Retirees, Chris Adams- UFCW
City Representatives: Tanya Wdowiak-City Auditor, Dazhana Argueta-Personnel Specialist
Others: Quentin Donohue – Chair, Steve Corbin – Dowd Insurance, Kelly Curran – HR Director, Heidi Fountain- BCBS
Agenda:
MOTION: Dazhana Argueta made a motion to accept the minutes from the 9/8/2025 meeting. Tanya Wdowiak seconded. Vote carried unanimously.
Medex Renewal Discussion
- Increase of 10.4% to medical.
- Increase of 17.5% to RX- rate is driven by the government and there is no negotiating.
- No other carriers are accepting new policies
- 87.5% is filled with generic products and we can assume there would be an increase to Rx out of pocket cost to members if we move to a different plan structure to save retirees money in their monthly premium.
- Rx rate is based on all municipal product not just Holyoke
- Medex 3 plan would result in loss of subsidy that Medex 2 offers.
- Chris Adams- looking at the different options to lower monthly cost does not weigh out the benefits since there will be more out of pocket cost
- Self funding Medex (medical) would be the avenue to assist with the cost of increases. Heidi mentioned that she has seen Trusts get in trouble for assisting too aggressively.
- Kelly Curran will speak with the Mayor regarding the split
Discussion on future selection process for broker
- RFP for broker
- Some municipalities have consultants and some have brokers
- Joe O’Connor feels strongly about RFP
- Heidi- most self funded accounts use a consultant
- Kelly Curran will talk with Jaime to do a presentation regarding RFP
New Business
- None
MOTION: Chris Adams made a motion to adjourn . Joe O’Connor seconded. Vote carried unanimously. The chair declared that this was a unanimous vote.
The meeting adjourned at 5:45 PM