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City of Holyoke Health Benefit Trust Meeting September 29, 2025

Sep 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
Health-Dental-Trust-Meeting-Agenda-20250929-.docx.pdf
September 22, 2025
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Health-Dental-Trust-Meeting-Agenda-20250929-.docx.pdf
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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

 

 

MEETING-MINUTES-SUBMITTED_20250929.pdf
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MEETING-MINUTES-SUBMITTED_20250929.pdf
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Laura E. Wilson
Tax Collector

City Hall
Room 13
Monday - Friday:
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
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